Montenegro is witnessing a transformative wave in community-led renewable energy with the RECME2 project, an ambitious initiative aiming to establish integrated Renewable Energy Communities (RECs) across the country. With four local pilot initiatives — in Bar, Podgorica (two sites), and Nikšić — RECME2 combines solar photovoltaic (PV) systems with battery energy storage (BESS) to enable citizens, households, and businesses to generate, share, and consume clean energy collectively. The project is designed not only to reduce costs and carbon emissions but also to serve as a replicable model for the broader Western Balkans region.
Local initiatives driving national vision
In Bar, a building company developing 320 residential units is leveraging RECME2 to achieve long-term energy stability, reduce operational costs, and gain a competitive edge. The initiative integrates rooftop PV systems and BESS, allowing residents to self-consume and share energy efficiently.
In Podgorica, one pilot targets a cluster of professional studios, apartments, and a kindergarten across the street. Here, shared renewable energy reduces electricity costs for residents while supporting the school’s public mission. A second Podgorica pilot focuses on a commercial building serving SMEs, providing predictable energy costs and powering electric vehicle (EV) charging stations via rooftop PV. This site is envisioned as a potential lighthouse model for other communities in the Western Balkans.
In Nikšić, northern households are collaborating to leverage both ground and rooftop surfaces to share generated energy, collectively reducing electricity bills while fostering community engagement and resilience.
Project structure and implementation
RECME2 is designed in two phases. The first phase, community activation and legal setup, has a budget of €145,000, focusing on establishing governance structures, recruiting members, and ensuring legal compliance. The second phase, feasibility studies and light infrastructure deployment, has a budget of €48,000, assessing technical options and preparing for broader implementation. The total project budget is €193,000.
The governance and legal structure of RECME2 consists of a General Assembly, a Supervisory Board, and a Coordinator with a Secretary, ensuring transparent decision-making, oversight, and smooth operation.
Technical targets and sustainability goals
Each site aims for 10 kW of installed PV capacity, with 12–15 sites implemented per year. Energy storage through 20 kWh BESS enables load shifting, while the target for self-consumption is 50%. Total capital expenditure per site, including PV, BESS, and inverters, ranges from €27,000 to €32,000, potentially reaching €50,000 with the addition of EV charging pods. Pilot CO₂ offsets are projected at 2.5–3.6 tons of CO₂ per year, demonstrating tangible environmental benefits.
Community impact and key targets
RECME2 sets ambitious yet achievable targets:
- 2 RECs established during the project
- 50 members joined by project end, with a five-year horizon targeting 500 members
- Engagement with 20 authorities to replicate the model in other municipalities
Beyond technical performance, RECME2 emphasizes citizen participation, stakeholder collaboration, and local empowerment. Communities are actively involved in decision-making, from governance to energy-sharing agreements, ensuring that projects are locally relevant, socially inclusive, and economically beneficial.
Why RECME2 matters
RECME2 exemplifies how Montenegro’s local initiatives can lead the energy transition in the Western Balkans. By combining renewable energy generation with smart storage, shared consumption, and community engagement, the project not only reduces costs and carbon emissions but also strengthens social cohesion and sets a blueprint for replication.
From residential developments in Bar to schools, studios, SMEs, and households in Podgorica and Nikšić, RECME2 demonstrates that community-led energy initiatives can be both technically feasible and socially impactful, proving that local action can complement national and regional energy strategies.
The story of RECME2 is clear: with structured governance, participatory engagement, and innovative renewable solutions, communities in Montenegro can lead, innovate, and inspire the energy transition for the wider Western Balkans region.