Aphaia Energy
Our roadmap
Building an energy community takes several stages. This is what it looks like practically:
Stage One: Set up the community
This is where we are now.
In this stage we assemble the first group of thirty (or more) members who will form the initial community. We agree on the statute, sign it, and legally form the community.
At this stage, all members commit 100 EUR to support the initial formation of the community.
Stage Two: Develop our plan
Once the community is legally formed, we meet to discuss what we would like to achieve, and how we should go about it.
It's likely that we will consult with other energy communities on the best way forward, hire an energy engineer to plan our installation, and look for land to rent or buy for the community.
We might choose to install solar panels alone, or to invest in battery storage and other amenities alongside generation. We might choose to partner with a landlord, or the municipality, for real estate. All of that is up to the community.
New members can still join throughout this phase, on payment of the co-operative share.
Stage Three: Investment
When we have a plan to proceed, it's time to make it happen.
By this stage, we'll have a good idea of what we would like to do, and how much it will cost. Now we need to put in the money to actually start generating our own power.
Typically in Greece, most households invest between €1500 and €5000, which covers their own energy needs - and sees a return on their investment in four to five years.
We may also choose to raise more money to create the solar garden we envision, and to support vulnerable families and other issues on the island.
Stage Four: Building and Electricity Generation
We will build our own power station, and make our own electricity.
In this phase, we'll arrange with DEI, DEDDIE, and other partners to construct the infrastructure we've decided on - solar panels, possibly batteries - on land we've bought or rented.
In our vision, such a power station isn't just a field of panels: it's a living place, combining electricity generation with permaculture gardening, and practical investment with community spirit.
Once we're generating power, the value of the electricity we create is automatically deducted from members' electricity bills. We can choose how and when we use this power, depending on the kind of generating plant we've built. Any electricity we don't use ourselves is sold to the grid, with the profit coming back to the community.
Stage Five: The Future
If the community is successful, we can choose to invest any surplus profits we generate, or any more money we raise, into expanding the community, through additional energy generating capacity, through additional services such as electric car charging, or by giving our extra capacity to vulnerable members of our community.
The community can expand indefinitely: where it goes is up to us. What is certain, is that when people come together, to work together for the benefit of one another and their community, they rarely stop at doing just one thing.