Author(s): Conceição, Maria Inês ; Cunha-e-Sá, Maria Antonieta ; Póvoa, Inês
Date: 2026
Persistent ID: http://hdl.handle.net/10362/206324
Origin: Repositório Institucional da UNL
Subject(s): Renewable energy communities; Energy consumption patterns; Energy transition; Energy poverty; counterfactual analysis; SDG 7 - Affordable and Clean Energy
Renewable Energy Communities (RECs) are increasingly recognised as key instruments for a just energy transition. Yet evidence on their impact on households’ energy behaviour remains limited. This study focuses on the Agra do Amial REC, located in a deprived neighbourhood in Porto, Portugal’s second largest city, and assesses its impact on electricity consumption and expenditures. Using high-frequency (hourly/daily) data and a forecast-based counterfactual approach, we estimate the causal effect of REC participation. Results show an increase of electricity consumption and a net reduction in energy bills, consistent with improved access to essential energy services. These findings offer policy-relevant insights for the design of just and inclusive community-based energy models in Portugal.
