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Energy Community Insights: Estonia's National Coalition
The Life COMET project aims to transform the community energy landscape in Central and Eastern Europe through assessment, experience sharing, and coalition building. Our series of blog posts “Energy Community Insights: A Tour of Central & Eastern Europe” explores the emergence and growth of national coalitions of energy communities in Croatia, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and Slovenia.
This blog post introduces Estonia’s national coalition of energy communities, offering an overview of the coalition’s activities and an inside look through the eyes of one of its members, Ingrid Nielsen, Advocacy Expert at the Estonian Fund for Nature.
Estonia’s Community Energy Coalition
Estonia’s national coalition of energy communities is an informal but increasingly influential network, working actively to promote and support the development of energy communities across the country.
Spearheaded by the Tartu Regional Energy Agency (TREA) and supported by key organizations such as Energiaühistu, the Ministry of Climate, and the Association of Estonian Cities and Municipalities, the coalition has grown into a diverse alliance of around 70 stakeholders. Its mission is to build momentum for community-led renewable energy, drive regulatory reform, and create a more inclusive, decentralized energy future.
Advocacy is at the heart of the coalition’s work. Members engage regularly with the Ministry of Climate, contributing input to strategic frameworks such as the Estonian Energy Policy Development Plan (ENMAK2035) and pushing for regulatory changes that would enable energy communities to thrive.
Through workshops, roundtables, and educational outreach, the coalition works to raise awareness, build capacity, and connect stakeholders from across sectors, including academia, local governments, housing associations, and the distribution system operator (Elektrilevi). The coalition also plays a key role in knowledge dissemination. Workshops with community representatives and municipalities, as well as guest lectures at institutions such as TalTech, help train and inspire future energy leaders, while outreach to municipal rescue organizations underscores the importance of energy resilience and crisis preparedness. With Life COMET’s support, the coalition has strengthened its communication and coordination efforts, laying the groundwork for the formalization of its structure.
A Conversation with Ingrid Nielsen: From Nature to Communities
Ingrid Nielsen, Advocacy Expert at the Estonian Fund for Nature (ELF), is one of the coalition’s most active members. With a background in environmental protection, she brings a unique perspective to Estonia’s energy transition.
Can you tell us about your involvement in the coalition?
"The Estonian Fund for Nature is mainly focused on species protection, but over the years we’ve realized that this cannot be done without involving people. Human well-being is influenced by the surrounding environment—and humans, as both consumers and influencers, have a huge impact. This is what attracted us in the coalition: the idea of decentralized energy systems and a renewable energy transition. The further production is distanced from people, the less they understand its impact. It is at the community level that people can agree on boundaries. Reducing consumption is key in this system, and community energy can serve as a good channel for transferring that knowledge. When people are even partly involved in the system, they make more informed choices."
How did the coalition come together, and what challenges has it faced?
"The start of the coalition happened very fast, without having a clear common goal, but different parties started joining, which showed there was a clear interest. The current challenge is that the coalition is still mostly carried by a few active parties. Even the Ministry once asked whether it was still happening—and if they should start organizing it themselves. But that would make it too formal. What we have is important precisely because it’s independent and can influence public policy. Our main goal is to identify obstacles that have not yet been addressed and to show that energy communities are possible in Estonia."
What is your long-term vision for the coalition?
"Currently, we have the know-how, experts, and representatives from relevant fields, but we need more joint public communication. Despite being an informal organization, there is a need to exert collective pressure through the media. In the future, the roundtable should shift more toward directly supporting the development of community energy activities in Estonia. A funny moment for me was attending an international event and thinking the people there seemed a bit 'crazy'—like activist rebels. In Estonia, we tend to be suited up and serious. That contrast was a learning point: maybe we could use a bit more playfulness in how we approach community energy."
Estonia’s community energy coalition stands at a critical juncture: in the short term, it focuses on joint communication and drafting regulatory proposals with ministries and legal experts. However, its long-term ambition is to formalize into an organization that can serve as a “one-stop shop” for all stakeholders—offering resources, fostering collaboration, and supporting the sustainable development of energy communities across the country. With strong foundations in place and a clear vision for the future, the coalition is positioned to become a driving force in Estonia’s energy transition.
