NEWS

The Municipality of Cascais officially inaugurated the WeGenerate Energy Community at Alto da Peça Primary School in Alcabideche on 25 June, marking an important milestone in the municipality's commitment to a fair and inclusive energy transition.

The new installation brings together rooftop solar photovoltaic panels and an intelligent energy management system, enabling the school to generate clean electricity for collective self-consumption. Beyond improving the energy efficiency of a public building, the project delivers tangible social benefits by sharing surplus renewable energy with around 20 local households.

The participating families are expected to save approximately €20 per month on their electricity bills, helping to reduce energy costs while increasing access to locally produced renewable energy.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by representatives of the Municipality of Cascais, the Parish Council of Alcabideche, members of the school community, including Year 4 pupils, and families participating in the energy community.

 

The WeGenerate Energy Community is the first initiative in Cascais developed jointly by the Municipality of Cascais and Cascais Ambiente, demonstrating how environmental sustainability and social inclusion can be addressed through a single integrated approach.

The project is based on a solidarity model: renewable electricity generated but not consumed by the school is redistributed to selected households within the local community. As the school's own energy efficiency improves and its electricity consumption decreases, a greater share of surplus solar energy becomes available for participating families, strengthening both the environmental and social impact of the initiative.

This approach illustrates how Renewable Energy Communities can contribute not only to decarbonisation but also to tackling energy poverty by ensuring that the benefits of the energy transition are shared more widely.

 

In addition to its technical and social dimensions, the project also serves as an educational resource. By integrating renewable energy technologies into the daily life of Alto da Peça Primary School, pupils gain first-hand exposure to concepts such as energy efficiency, renewable energy generation and climate action.

The inauguration of the solar generation unit and intelligent energy management system therefore represents more than an infrastructure upgrade. It creates a real-life learning environment that helps equip younger generations with the knowledge and awareness needed to support a more sustainable future.