Comparison of Self-Consumption Regulatory Approaches in Europe

This research article examines the regulatory frameworks surrounding self-consumption and renewable energy communities in Europe, focusing on the transposition of European Union directives into national regulations in Portugal, Spain, and France. It outlines the impact of these regulations on energy sharing mechanisms and business models, emphasizing the importance of dynamic allocation coefficients for enhancing energy allocation efficiency and promoting advanced business models. The article discusses the definitions of individual and collective self-consumption, proximity rules, energy allocation coefficients, and the management of energy surplus. It highlights the differences in regulatory approaches among the three countries, noting that while Portugal and France benefit from dynamic allocation coefficients, Spain's absence of such mechanisms limits opportunities for collective self-consumption. Additionally, the article addresses the trade-off between flexible energy sharing and implementation complexity, as well as the role of digital tools in operationalizing energy communities. Suggestions for regulatory improvements are also presented.