The Bimenes Energy Community is located in the rural area of Fontoria (Bimenes, Asturias). It has been promoted by the Llume Yerbata Association created between 2021 and 2022 with the aim of promoting collective self-consumption facilities and promoting awareness of energy efficiency, clean energy generation and proximity, as well as promoting greater energy independence, especially in rural areas. It is an example of a rural shared self-consumption located in a coal mining region facing energy transition due to the closure of mines and the elimination of coal-fired power plants. Asturias is currently immersed in a deep Energy Transition to revitalize the economy in specific local areas.
The initiative has put into operation a solar photovoltaic plant called Fontoria Energy Cell in 2022. It has an installed power of 20.25 kWp expandable to 30kWp and an annual production of approximately 23,500kWh thanks to the 45 panels that compose it. This plant provides service to the seven single-family homes of each of the seven families that constitute it. The installation format is in a close network with discharge to the electrical network and adjustment by means of meters, with the advantage of not making any modifications to the houses. The maximum distance allowed by regulations for dwellings is 500m. from the point of discharge. This plant began operating in May 2023, and is expected to reduce energy consumption in the range of 80 to 100%.
In this case, the design of the installation does not include battery storage, so the surplus production generated by the plant and not consumed by its components is not stored and is directly fed into the grid. These surpluses are assumed by the electricity distributor and financially compensate the participants by reducing their bill.
