San Giovanni a Teduccio, a Naples suburb grappling with significant environmental and socioeconomic challenges, faces a myriad of issues, including Camorra-related problems, environmental pollution stemming from abandoned chemical plants, ongoing reclamation efforts due to high pollution levels, the presence of non-swimmable sea areas due to the absence of sewage treatment facilities, and widespread poverty.

It's within this suburb that the inaugural solidarity energy community emerged. The "Energy and Solidarity Community of East Naples," established by Legambiente Campania, currently comprises 20 family units and aims to double its membership within the year.

The formation of this community of interest, consisting of 20 families, led to the establishment of the Energy and Solidarity Community of East Naples. A team of experts monitored the energy consumption of these families, creating a detailed breakdown of household expenses. The analysis began with identifying areas of wastage and devising strategies to manage energy costs effectively.

The Famiglia di Maria Foundation, an organization actively involved in the neighbourhood with educational initiatives for minors, generously offered the roof of its headquarters—a former 19th-century orphanage—to kickstart the grassroots ecological transition.

Utilizing state incentives, 166 solar panels were installed and connected to a new power station, which redistributes energy among the 20 participating families. These solar panels will channel energy into a specially designated station for use by the families involved in the project.

The activation of the East Naples Energy and Solidarity community's solar panels on December 17, 2021, generated 53 kW of power for the initial 20 families in the neighbourhood. The project aims to encompass at least forty apartments, as outlined by Legambiente Campania.

These families, many living in or near poverty and often dealing with 'energy illegality,' benefit significantly from enrollment in the energy and social community. It enables them to access the public and legal energy grid, empowering them as active agents in reshaping the neighbourhood's cultural landscape.

The significance of the East Naples Energy Community lies in its integration of environmental and social elements. This energy community champions innovation and social support for the local population, as savings accrued from renewable sources directly benefit families.

An important aspect emphasized is that communities and neighbourhoods must drive the shift away from fossil fuel-linked energy production models, leading the charge in the ecological transition.

Community Energy Resources (CER), defined in the February 2020 law (L. 28/2020), are independent legal entities comprising members/users residing near renewable energy production plants. They collaborate and share renewable energy resources.

The energy consumed by community members through devices installed at their homes is classified as "shared energy" and thus incentivized. Over the 25-year warranty period of the photovoltaic modules, the total incentives received, minus management expenses, are estimated to exceed €200,000. Additionally, real savings are anticipated, with lower electricity consumption across all CER members estimated at around €300,000.

Simultaneously, a training program focusing on renewable energy procurement methods and electrical consumption monitoring, along with building quality assessments in terms of heat dissipation, is underway. 
 

https://legambiente.campania.it/2021/03/09/a-napoli-la-prima-comunita-energetica-ditalia/
https://www.vita.it/storie-e-persone/a-napoli-est-la-comunita-energetica-e-anche-solidale/
https://napoli.corriere.it/notizie/cronaca/22_settembre_02/san-giovanni-teduccio-venti-famiglie-l-energia-fatta-casa-087d70e8-2a85-11ed-8cff-7d52a5a9f75a.shtml
https://ecquologia.com/san-giovanni-a-teduccio-comunita-energetica-rinnovabile-solidale/
https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/1d992eb312f942959b55c611dd0ce968
https://www.comunirinnovabili.it/la-rete-delle-comunita-energetiche-rinnovabili-e-sostenibi
https://www.famigliadimaria.it/

    Direct SDGs:

• SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy): The creation of the Energy and Solidarity Community directly addresses the goal by promoting affordable and clean energy solutions through the installation of solar panels and the shared energy network.
• SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure): The project directly contributes to sustainable infrastructure development by repurposing an existing building for renewable energy purposes, showcasing innovation in community-led energy solutions.
• SDG 13 (Climate Action): The initiative directly aligns with climate action goals by addressing environmental challenges in the area, such as pollution and the need for reclamation, through the adoption of renewable energy sources.
• SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals): The collaboration between organizations like Legambiente Campania, the Famiglia di Maria Foundation, and the local community demonstrates a direct partnership for achieving sustainable development

Indirect SDGs:

• SDG 1 (No Poverty): While not a direct focus, the project indirectly contributes to reducing poverty by providing families in poverty with access to legal and affordable energy, thereby improving their overall living conditions.
• SDG 2 (Zero Hunger): Though not directly related, alleviating poverty (indirectly addressed in the project) can contribute to improved food security and well-being for families involved.
• SDG 4 (Quality Education): The practice involve indirectly contributes to quality education by projects for minors, fostering awareness about sustainable practices.
• SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities): The project indirectly contributes to making cities and communities more sustainable by addressing environmental education in the neighborhood and promoting a community-led transition to renewable energy

The Energy and Solidarity Community project in San Giovanni a Teduccio is directly aligns with SDG 7 by introducing innovative solutions to the community's energy needs. Through the installation of solar panels and the establishment of a shared energy network, the community gains access to clean and affordable energy, contributing significantly to the goal of sustainable energy for all.
The Energy and Solidarity Community in San Giovanni a Teduccio serves as a practical and inspiring illustration of how a community can switch to renewable energy initiative with a good program of education in it

1. How does the Energy and Solidarity Community of East Naples tackle the environmental and socioeconomic hurdles confronting San Giovanni a Teduccio, notably concerning the Camorra, environmental degradation, and economic hardship?
2. What impact does the Famiglia di Maria Foundation have on fostering the ecological transformation of the East Naples community, and how do the solar panels installed on its rooftop bolster the overarching initiative?
3. How does the implementation of Community Energy Resources (CER) align with the regulatory framework outlined in the February 2020 legislation, and what benefits do community participants accrue for engaging in renewable energy generation? 
    

Agostino Cefalo, Gramigna ODV