- Tackling regulatory, social and technical barriers to accelerate solar energy communities in Europe
- Bringing citizen-driven solar innovation to Transfiere 2026, Europe’s leading forum for knowledge transfer and R&D collaboration
Madrid, 11 February 2026. The European project SOCIAREM (Solar Open Community Instruments for All Residents in Europe and the Mediterranean) will participate in Transfiere 2026 – European Forum for Science, Technology and Innovation, taking place from 24 to 26 February 2026 at FYCMA Málaga, with a dedicated exhibition stand (Stand A3). The project’s presence at one of Europe’s leading knowledge transfer events underlines its commitment to accelerating the clean energy transition through innovation, collaboration and citizen empowerment.
Co-funded under the Horizon Europe programme, in collaboration with the Swiss Secretariat for Education, Research and Education (SERI), with a budget of €5,57M and a duration of 42 months, SOCIAREM addresses one of the key challenges of Europe’s energy transition: how to ensure that solar energy and renewable energy communities become accessible, inclusive and scalable across diverse territories. While photovoltaic technologies are increasingly mature, significant social, regulatory, financial and administrative barriers continue to slow down widespread adoption. SOCIAREM responds to these challenges by developing open and citizen-centred tools that facilitate the planning, management and optimisation of solar installations and community energy models.
The project aims to transform the renewable energy landscape by empowering citizens, municipalities and local stakeholders to actively participate in solar energy production and sharing. By combining digital innovation with social engagement strategies, SOCIAREM contributes to tackling energy poverty, simplifying regulatory complexity and strengthening community-based governance models. Its approach supports Europe’s decarbonisation objectives while ensuring that the transition remains socially inclusive and economically viable.
SOCIAREM at TRANSFIERE 2026
Participation in Transfiere 2026 offers a valuable opportunity for stakeholders across research, industry and public administration to explore how citizen-driven solar innovation can contribute to Europe’s energy transition. As one of Europe’s leading forums for science, technology and knowledge transfer, Transfiere brings together key actors shaping innovation and sustainable development.
SOCIAREM invites researchers, policymakers, technology providers, municipalities, investors and innovation intermediaries to visit its stand (A3) during the forum. The project team will share insights into its approach to addressing regulatory, social and technical barriers to renewable energy communities, and discuss how these solutions can support local and regional energy initiatives.
The forum provides an open space for dialogue, exchange of experiences and the exploration of potential synergies that can contribute to advancing inclusive and community-based solar energy deployment across Europe.
About SOCIAREM
Running from October 2025 to March 2029, SOCIAREM is a 42-month Horizon Europe project with a total budget of €5,572,687.50, co-funded by the European Union, together with the Swiss Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI).
The consortium is coordinated byComillas Pontifical University (Spain), leading the project’s energy and social research, PV optimisation tools, and serious game development. The partnership gathers 15 organisations with complementary expertise: SMEs such as AKUYARI (Spain) and8D-Games (Netherlands) contribute innovation in user engagement and gamification; research centres including R&D Nester (Centro de Investigaçao em Energia Ren), Watt-IS andCEVE (Cooperativa Eléctrica do Cale d’Este, Portugal) bring strong technical know-how in renewable energy and P2P exchange; while Phoebe Research & Innovation Ltd (Cyprus) and EMPA (Switzerland) advance monitoring, optimisation, and planning tools for PV adoption. Academic partners such as the University of Cyprus, the University of Deusto (Spain), and the University of Aswan (Egypt) contribute leading research in smart energy systems, social sciences, and network planning. Civil society and community actors like FMES (Fondazione dele Comunità del Mediterraneo Sostenibili e Solidali per l’Inclusione e l’Accoglienza – Ente Filantropico) and Sinloc (Italy) ensure close collaboration with local energy communities, while Finnova Foundation (Belgium) drives communication and dissemination, and Zabala Innovation Consulting (Spain) manages exploitation and innovation. Together, this diverse consortium combines research excellence, technological innovation, and strong outreach capacity to maximise the project’s impac