FEUP leads €5.4M European project to empower renewable energy communities

The Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto (FEUP) will coordinate a €5.4 million project funded by the European Commission, designed to revolutionise Renewable Energy Communities (RECs). Starting in January 2026, the INNO-TREC initiative aims to streamline the entire lifecycle of RECs, from their creation and system design to daily operation, monitoring, and long-term optimisation.  

 

INNO-TREC seeks to enable citizens, companies, and local authorities to produce, consume, and share 100% renewable energy more efficiently. This approach is expected to help overcome complex legal procedures, high implementation costs, and the lack of reliable tools currently hindering the adoption of shared photovoltaic systems. 

By providing intuitive, accessible digital solutions, the project aims to foster more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable energy communities aligned with Europe’s goals for carbon neutrality and energy democratisation. The project brings together 20 academic and industrial partners and will be tested in Portugal, Greece, Belgium, Ireland, the United Kingdom, and Italy.  

The initiative received the highest possible score, 15 out of 15, in one of the EU’s most competitive energy funding calls. Led by FEUP professors João Catalão and Cláudio Monteiro, the project represents a significant opportunity to strengthen public access to renewable energy and reshape how communities organise around shared energy systems. It also marks FEUP’s second consecutive leadership role in a major European energy project, following its coordination of EU-DREAM.