From Risky to Resilient: How Citizens Can Fund the Transition - Chris Vrettos, ACCE project

How do we move community energy from “too risky” for banks to a serious part of Europe’s clean energy future? In this episode, Marine Cornelis speaks with Chris Vrettos (REScoop.eu & Electra Energy) about the ACCE project, which is closing with its final event on 7 October.

Key takeaways

• Community Energy Financing Schemes (CEFS): tools built by and for communities that make projects bankable and scalable.

• From risk to resilience: bundling many small initiatives into portfolios that investors take seriously.

• Inclusion by design: solidarity shares and ethical finance models that bring vulnerable households into the transition.

• Policy momentum: how the Social Climate Fund, EU budget, and potential EIB guarantees can support citizen-led finance.

Why listen?
Finance is never neutral. As Chris reminds us, it can either lock communities out or bring them in. ACCE has shown that citizen-driven finance is not only possible, but scalable.

🎧 Tune in now — and if you want to see what comes next, join the ACCE closing conference on 7 October 2025, where Marine will moderate the discussion.

Energ' Ethic goes out every other week.

Keep up to date with new episodes straight from your inbox

Reach out to Marine Cornelis via BlueSky or LinkedIn
Music: I Need You Here - Kamarius
Edition: Podcast Media Factory 

Support Energ'Ethic on Patreon

© Next Energy Consumer, 2025

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.