San Giovanni a Teduccio, a suburb of Naples characterized by strong environmental and socioeconomic challenges: a peripheral neighborhood plagued by issues related to the Camorra, environmental pollution due to abandoned chemical plants, an area undergoing reclamation due to high pollution levels, non-swimmable sea due to the lack of sewage treatment plants, and high levels of poverty.
It is precisely in this suburb that the first solidarity energy community was born. The establishment of the "Energy and Solidarity Community of East Naples," created by Legambiente Campania, currently involves 20 family units and aims to double within the year.
The formation of a community of interest consisting of 20 families led to the creation of the Energy and Solidarity Community of East Naples.
A group of experts has monitored the energy consumption of the 20 families, creating a "rendering of family expenses." The analysis started with identifying wastages and managing the family's energy expenses.
The Famiglia di Maria Foundation, an organization working in the neighborhood with educational projects for minors, made the roof of its headquarters available—a former orphanage from the 1800s—initiating the bottom-up ecological transition.
Thanks to state incentives, 166 solar panels were installed and connected to a new power station that shares energy among the 20 participating families. The solar panels will feed energy into a specially constructed station for use by the twenty families in the project.
The panels of the East Naples energy and solidarity community were "switched on" on December 17, 2021, producing 53 kW for the initial twenty families in the neighborhood. The project aims to involve at least forty apartments, as explained by Legambiente Campania.
These families are in absolute or near poverty and often live in conditions of 'energy illegality.' Enrolling them in the energy and social community means allowing them to connect to the public and legal energy grid, making them active agents in changing the neighborhood's cultural mindset.
Why is the East Naples Energy Community important? Because it ties together environmental and social aspects. The energy community embraces innovation and social support for the population because the savings from using renewable sources directly aid the families.
An important point emphasized is that communities and neighborhoods must be the ones to change the models of energy production tied to fossil fuels, leading the ecological transition.
Community Energy Resources (CER), as defined in the February 2020 law (L. 28/2020), are autonomous legal entities formed by members/users located near the renewable energy production plant. They share and network renewable energy.
The energy drawn by the community members through devices installed at their homes is considered "shared energy" and is therefore incentivized. Over the 25-year warranty period of the photovoltaic modules, the total incentives received, minus management expenses, would amount to over €200,000. It is also estimated to generate real savings, in terms of lower electricity consumption by all CER members, of about €300,000.
Simultaneously, there is a training program on renewable energy procurement methods and monitoring of electrical consumption and building quality in terms of heat dissipation.

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 address the environmental and socioeconomic challenges faced by San Giovanni a Teduccio, particularly in relation to the Camorra, environmental pollution, and poverty?

2. What role does the Famiglia di Maria Foundation play in the ecological transition of the East Naples community, and how does the installation of solar panels on the foundation's roof contribute to the overall project?

3. How does the concept of Community Energy Resources (CER) work within the legal framework defined in the February 2020 law, and what incentives do the community members receive for participating in renewable energy production?

Agostino Cefalo, Gramigna ODV