A CRITICAL LOOK AT RENEWABLE ENERGY COMMUNITIES FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS

Sustainable development means achieving development without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. It can also be defined as securing the present and the future by achieving balance in environmental, economic, and social areas. The United Nations adopted the Sustainable Development Goals in 2015, a global call to action. This call to action serves as a roadmap for achieving sustainable development by 2030. Sustainable development goals aim to end poverty, protect the environment, take measures against the climate crisis, and promote peace. Accessible and clean energy is also a key factor in achieving the sustainable development goals. The existence of an affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy management system is of paramount importance. In this context, the European Commission's 2022 decision to create sustainable cities has underscored the importance of renewable energy communities and citizen participation in the clean energy transition. Energy communities play a vital role in enhancing local energy resilience and ensuring cost-effective energy management. These communities can leverage collective market participation to achieve economic and operational benefits by bringing consumers together. This study examines energy communities from a broad and holistic perspective within the framework of the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals.