Estonia

Overall assessment

Updated December 2022

Estonia has transposed both definitions of energy communities (energy community and renewable energy community) in its national legislation with an amendment to its Electricity Market Act published on 23 February 2022 and an amendment to its Energy Sector Organization Act published on 18 May 2022. Overall, there is no reference in this legislation to an enabling framework for energy communities and specific measures for RECs in its Estonia’s support scheme for renewables. Also, an assessment of barriers and potential for the development of energy communities is missing.

Detailed assessment

Assessment of obstacles and potential for development of ECs

No such assessment is available. The Competition Authority is in charge to watch out to ensure that no obstacles or limitations are established by market participants regarding consumption of self-generated electricity and the development of energy communities.

Removal of unjustified regulatory & administrative barriers

The Competition Authority is in charge to watch out to ensure that no obstacles or limitations are established by market participants regarding consumption of self-generated electricity and the development of energy communities.

DSO duties around cooperation with ECs and facilitation of energy sharing

According to Article 65-1 of the EMA, a DSO must engage in cooperation with an energy community to distribute any electricity generated by the community for consumption to the EC members. It is not specified how the DSO will facilitate this cooperation.

Fair, proportionate, and transparent registration & licensing procedures

Not addressed in the transposition.

Incentives connected to network tariffs based on a CBA

Not addressed in the transposition.

Non-discriminatory treatment as market participant

Not addressed in the transposition.

Accessibility to low-income & vulnerable households

Not addressed in the transposition.

Tools to access finance

Not addressed in the transposition.

Tools to access information

Not addressed in the transposition.

Regulatory capacity building for public authorities

Not addressed in the transposition.

NECP reporting on enabling frameworks

Not addressed in the transposition. Member States are required via the Governance Regulation (2018/1999) to report on their enabling frameworks for RECs by 15 March 2023.

Support Scheme adapted for RECs

Not addressed in the transposition.