In Italy, the ConnectHeat project is exploring how thermal Renewable Energy Communities (RECs) can harness local resources to drive the energy transition. Led by the Energy Agency of Friuli Venezia Giulia (APE FVG), the Italian case focuses on woody biomass from local forests, especially in rural and mountainous areas where heating needs are high and forest resources abundant.
By linking forest management with community heating, these initiatives create opportunities for local jobs, cooperation among forest owners, and sustainable territorial development. Certification systems ensure quality, efficiency, and environmental responsibility throughout the supply chain, from the forest to the heat delivered in homes.
This approach not only reduces dependence on imported fossil fuels but also stabilises costs, supports rural economies, and strengthens energy independence. Pilot experiences such as those in Friuli Venezia Giulia demonstrate how thermal energy communities can become engines of decarbonisation, social cohesion, and resilience, a model ready to inspire similar initiatives across Europe.
Find out more about this inspiring case and its outstanding approach in the latest article “THERMAL ENERGY COMMUNITIES: A NEW CONCEPT, A NEW OPPORTUNITY, published in the Sherwood Magazine.
