Pilot 8 discussed social acceptance of local energy communities in Crans-Montana
On 15 August 2026, O-CEI Pilot 8 contributed to the conference “Prosumers d’Energie dans les Destinations de Montagne”, organised by the VALPIC association in Crans-Montana, Valais, Switzerland.
The presentation, “Social Acceptance in Local Electricity Communities (LECs)”, addressed the evolving role of citizens from energy consumers to prosumers, the potential synergies between Local Electricity Communities and artificial intelligence, and Pilot 8’s work within O-CEI and the BRIDGE community. The session also introduced the pilot’s research methodology for assessing the social acceptance of new energy technologies and community-based energy models.
The presentation was followed by an open discussion with participants, focusing on social acceptability, local governance, and citizen ownership in the energy transition. The exchange provided relevant perspectives on the expectations and concerns of local communities and reinforced the importance of integrating societal considerations into the development of future energy systems.
