Course: DISCOVER the PROJECT - the Specific Guidebook in Austria with PIXEL!

DISCOVER interviews: PIXEL!

Hello PIXEL! You are the technical coordinator and Austrian partner of DISCOVER. At this point, the project is about to release the Specific Guidebook.

Can you explain exactly what this tool is, and what it looks like physically? What are its objectives?

Hello AISFOR! The General Guidebook is a framework that outlines all the steps a community energy project initiator must take to realize their project, on the other hand the Specific Guidebook documents and makes available tools and services, that initiators can use for example in the region of Austria to fulfill those steps. Some of those tools are of general nature (for example things like solar power assessment), others are quite specific to respective regions (for example document templates for energy community creation, which will be in the national language and reflecting the specific rules in the region). Some of those tools and services are offered directly by the DISCOVER teams, others might be offered by other European LIFE projects or even third parties. The Specific Guidebook will be both used by the DISCOVER in the respective One Stop Shops that will be operated in 4 of our 5 pilot regions and publicly available online. This will allow us to reach even more community energy project initiators and enhance accessibility!

We are excited to announce the completion of the Specific Guidebook, which represents a significant milestone in the DISCOVER project. After a little over a year of work, this is one of our major deliverables. The DISCOVER project aims to develop services to support community energy projects, and we’re offering these services through our One-Stop Shops (OSS) to project initiators. Essentially, the guidebook consolidates all of our support services into one comprehensive document. It also reflects the project team’s experience in assisting community energy projects.

How does it work? Is it user-friendly, and who is it intended for?

The setup process around energy projects can be overwhelming for persons that have not been involved in community energy before and the abundance of information available can make it difficult to focus on those matters are relevant in the specific circumstances on an initiator. We hope that Specific Guidebooks will help those people to find relevant information, focus on relevant tasks and reach their goals with their projects quicker.

The guidebook serves as a complete overview of the services an OSS can offer and services that already exist in the region and can be used by initiators.

Were there any challenges when transitioning from the General to the Specific Guidebook? What difficulties did you face in preparing this tool, and why?

The DISCOVER project spans five pilot regions, each with its own unique characteristics. For instance, when it comes to energy communities, some countries have already largely implemented European guidelines, while others are still in transition. To ensure consistency in the development of the specific guidebooks, we introduced a common structure across all of them, which we called the General Guidebook. When developing the specific guidebooks, we used the General Guidebook as a platform, ensuring that all pilot regions adhered to a harmonized structure. This approach not only synchronized the development process but also allowed room for local adaptations. The harmonization facilitated the sharing of lessons across regions and lays the groundwork for future replication.

What are the main elements of innovation in the Specific Guidebook? For example, does it use new technologies or methodologies?

The innovation of the Specific Guidebooks lies in their customization for each pilot region. They provide tailored guidance that reflects the local context, including relevant stakeholders and region-specific services. It positions our DISCOVER One-Stop Shops as local experts in community energy projects. These service hubs are viewed as competency centers that connect local players, providing essential support throughout the entire project lifecycle. This will allow us to launch a great number of community energy projects.

We are aware that maybe not all community energy projects will be able to access the One Stop Shops but will still be interested in the information and guidance that the Specific Guidebooks can provide. We hope that the interactive version will be useful for those people and we’re taking precautions to make this online version very accessible, understandable and concise for everyboy.

Why is this tool needed in Austria, and how will it impact the Austrian context, particularly regarding Austrian Community Energy Projects (CEPs)?

Austria’s situation is a bit different from the other pilot regions, as we don't plan to open a physical One-Stop Shop here. Austria already has an established network of service hubs offering support to energy communities during the establishment phase. However, our focus will be on developing the interactive guidebook, which will provide an online experience and allow us to reach a wider audience. The guidebook will cover crucial topics for community energy projects and go beyond just energy communities. For example, we’ll integrate our expertise in community financing and provide ongoing support not just during the realization phase, but also during the operational phase of the projects.

What are the next steps for the project? Will there be an interactive version of the Specific Guidebook or other developments?

We still have more than half of the DISCOVER project ahead of us. Over the past months, we've worked to equip ourselves with the necessary tools and information and connected with stakeholders and other LIFE projects. In the next phase, we’ll focus on establishing our physical presence, including the One-Stop Shops, as well as our web presence with the interactive guidebook. With these developments, we’ll be fully equipped to welcome and assist community energy project initiators, providing guidance throughout all stages of their projects.

Thanks for your time PIXEL, and good luck with your work!