The Horizon Europe-funded SOCIAREM project aim to pioneer inclusive, scalable, and user-driven approaches to foster the widespread adoption of photovoltaic (PV) systems and the development of renewable energy communities (RECs) across Europe.

SOCIAREM brings together 15 partners from 9 countries to tackle the social, technical, economic, and regulatory barriers to solar energy uptake through real-world demonstrations, digital innovation, and community engagement.

At the core of SOCIAREM is a mission to simplify and accelerate solar adoption, enabling citizens to become active participants in the energy transition. The project develops open-source tools for energy sharing and peer-to-peer (P2P) trading, interfaces for consumer empowerment and awareness, and intelligent platforms that improve planning, management, and integration of PV systems within local energy ecosystems.

THE ROLE OF R&D NESTER

R&D Nester leads Work Package 3 (WP3): Digital Energy Tools for Energy Communities, which lies at the technological heart of SOCIAREM. WP3 is focused on the design, development, and integration of modular digital tools that empower energy communities, facilitate P2P trading, and enable collective participation in flexibility and energy markets.

R&D Nester coordinates a suite of interoperable solutions covering:

• Digital twins for community-level energy monitoring and optimization,
• Tools for flexibility estimation and self-consumption enhancement,
• Citizen-facing interfaces for energy awareness and engagement,
• Platforms supporting secure, transparent P2P trading.

In the Portuguese demonstrator, hosted in the DSO concession area of CEVE in Vila Nova, R&D Nester will support the deployment and testing of these solutions under real operating conditions. This includes ensuring technical alignment with grid realities, supporting system integration with market and system operator services, and validating the tools' ability to enhance consumer participation and community-driven energy management.

By leading the digital innovation workstream, R&D Nester reinforces its commitment to a citizen-centric energy transition, ensuring that technological advancements translate into tangible, inclusive benefits for energy communities and society at large.