Genoa, there's a Geeco on the roof of the Aquarium
It's called Geeco – an acronym for Genova energie raggruppati – the new Renewable Energy Community (Cers) of Genoa, an initiative created to promote renewable energy, social cohesion, and sustainable development for the city of Genoa, starting from its heart, the historic center.
The project, presented today under the Lanterna, was launched "from the bottom up" by a group of founding members that brings together entities from the third sector and the cooperative world, including Confcooperative Liguria , Legambiente Liguria , Social Hub Genova , Fratello Sole, Cittadini Sostenibili, the social cooperatives Gente di Mare and La Cruna and Cer Sole , the first renewable energy community established in Genoa and among the first recognized in Italy.
The energy community's first system will be a photovoltaic system of approximately 70 kW , which will be installed on the roof of the Genoa Aquarium , thanks to the involvement of Costa Edutainment , which has agreed to grant use of the surface. The investment will be supported by CER itself, benefiting from national and local non-repayable grants of 40%.
Geeco was established as a consumer cooperative/social enterprise and will reinvest the resources generated by energy sharing in projects with a social and environmental impact , intended for the local community of Genoa. These projects will be selected and evaluated by the initiative's partners. Membership in the CER is open to anyone who identifies with the environmental and social cohesion development goals that underpinned Geeco's creation.
Thanks to the national incentive system of the Energy Services Manager (GSE) , for every kWh shared among members, CER will receive guaranteed financial contributions for 20 years, and will be able to access additional non-repayable financing for the expansion of its plants.
The one presented today is in fact the first Geeco configuration , which covers the area served by the primary AC001E01099 substation (which includes the entire Porto Vecchio basin from Ponte Colombo to the Aquarium and beyond the urban park of the Walls and Forts) but a progressive extension to the entire city of Genoa with the construction of other systems is already planned.
The Cers Geeco project is part of the broader Enernoi network, promoted by EpC Energie per la Comunità, a benefit company established by Cgm–Consorzio Nazionale della Cooperazione Sociale and Fratello Sole , with the aim of creating environmental, economic, and social value through the local production and sharing of energy from renewable sources, integrated with welfare, sustainable mobility, and inclusion services . Nine Cers Enernoi networks have already been established, with another 40 territorial configurations being activated throughout Italy.
"Sustainability is an integral part of the cooperative DNA," comments Anna Manca, president of Confcooperative Liguria , adding: "For the cooperatives in the historic center, this translates into a daily commitment to responding to community needs, combating inequality, and promoting the ecological transition. The Geeco cooperative embodies this journey, creating networks and generating energy not only technically but also socially. Confcooperative," Manca concludes, "actively supported its creation, providing tools and expertise to support its launch and to involve other social cooperatives in the project from now on."
Marta Orselli , president of Gente di Mare social cooperative, echoes her sentiments: "This is a first step toward a new energy, shining a light not only on offices, but on people's needs. A simple and innovative method that finds us ready to face the challenge, fully aligned with the cooperative's goals and our mission." .
The opening photo, by Marco Alpozzi/LaPresse, shows the exterior of the Genoa Aquarium. The other photos are from the press office of Confcooperative Liguria.
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