Residents of the Tercio de Terol colony in Carabanchel have formed Madrid's first energy community after Iberdrola bills up to 1,000 euros. Led by Marian Álvarez, they installed solar panels in 2021 and are inspiring other neighborhoods. The project covers 41 homes and awaits activation approval.
Marian Álvarez, 59, received 1,000-euro bills from Iberdrola for three straight months in the Tercio de Terol colony in Carabanchel. This spurred about 50 residents to form the Tercio y Terol Energy Community in 2021, placing solar panels on their roofs due to the neighborhood's sunny exposure and roof ownership.
Each invested 2,200 euros per kilowatt, such as Álvarez's 6,600 euros for three kilowatts or Marcos Martínez's for half a kilowatt on a neighbor's roof. They secured over 100,000 euros in EU subsidies, recouping around 40% of costs. Energy is fed into the grid and shared equally among 38 neighbors and three families facing energy poverty.
Despite hurdles like bureaucracy, protected historical status, and no city hall support, the group provides personalized bill analyses and has built community ties, as Marta Pascual, 63, noted. Aided by NGO Light Humanity, they await Iberdrola approval to direct energy to homes.
Neighborhoods like Vallecas and Villaverde aim to replicate it, installing panels on school roofs for residents and businesses, with initiatives like Brillaverde in legal setup.
