Obinitsa shows how a local problem can spark an energy community

The idea for the Obinitsa energy community did not grow out of an abstract wish to do something greener or more modern. It began with a practical problem: the high electricity bills of the Seto Aiad cold storage facility and the need to make local berry farming more reliable. 

There were two clear reasons behind the creation of the cooperative Oma Elekter. The energy use of the cold storage facility directly affected nine local berry growers. At the same time, the StartSun project, which reached the region through Tartu Regional Energy Agency (TREA, EE), offered a real opportunity to find a solution. 

The cooperative was created in response to a very concrete problem, while StartSun offered a possible way to address it. 

Why this case matters: 

Obinitsa shows how an energy community can start from a very practical local risk. 

Main challenge: 

Permits, procurement and an outstanding electricity sales agreement took more time than expected. 

Lesson for others: 

Start with a real local problem and keep communication honest, including delays and doubts. 

Collaboration between people has played a key role in establishing the Obinitsa energy community. Photo by Laura Killak, EMÜ.

It all started with cold storage 

The energy use of the Seto Aiad cold storage facility was the main driver behind the creation of the Obinitsa energy community. High electricity bills were not only an accounting issue. They directly affected the everyday work and costs of local berry growers. 

Reliability was just as important as price. When a power outage once prevented the freezing equipment from restarting automatically, and no warning was sent, several tonnes of berries melted. For local growers, the need for a more reliable energy solution became impossible to ignore. 

That moment made it clear that the problem was not only the price of electricity. It was also about risk, security and how to protect the work of local producers. 

At first, the idea was discussed by TREA and members of Seto Aiad. Later, local residents and businesses operating in the area also joined the discussion. In this way, a cold storage problem began to grow into a broader community initiative. 

An energy community as a practical solution 

The idea to create an energy community came largely from the framework of the StartSun project. Establishing an energy community was one of the project requirements. At the same time, involving the community made the idea more meaningful. 

If the solution had concerned only one cold storage facility, the circle of beneficiaries would have remained narrow. Through the energy community, the impact of the project could be widened and linked to the development of the whole area. 

The beginning of Oma Elekter is therefore strongly connected to StartSun. But the project alone would not have been enough. People were needed with whom to do it, and those people were already present in the area. 

A functioning cooperative, Seto Aiad, also provided a useful example. This made it logical to establish Oma Elekter as a cooperative as well. 

The idea was explained simply. Members would make a joint investment in equipment, and all members of the energy cooperative would benefit directly or indirectly. At the beginning, even the initiators themselves did not fully understand the concept. 

“At first, we did not really understand what kind of creature this energy community was,” it is recalled. “But when we decided to establish it as a cooperative, it became much easier to understand.” 

Trust does not appear by accident 

The community background of Obinitsa and Setomaa played an important role. Seto Aiad has been operating in the area since 2016, and that cooperation had already shown people that working together can lead to real results. 

Still, not everything was simple from the beginning. There were many questions. Who would lead the process? How would participation be divided? Would membership bring obligations? Would the contribution be returned? Would the project make economic sense? 

There was caution. Some interested people attended working group meetings but did not become members. The main hesitation was whether the project would pay off. 

In such situations, open communication became decisive. Community cooperation is based on trust, but trust does not appear on its own. It has to be maintained deliberately. 

“It is important to talk not only about successes, but also about things that go wrong or remain unfinished,” it is said. “Trust does not appear by accident.” 

Documents, permits and waiting 

Once the idea was clear and people were involved, it did not mean that everything moved quickly. The biggest obstacles were not mainly technical or financial. They were connected to documents, permits and processing times. 

One of the first major obstacles was obtaining approval from the Rescue Board, which took longer than expected. Public procurement also added complexity. The first procurement had to be cancelled because the deadline for completing the work was too short. 

The electricity sales agreement has still not been finalised. This shows that creating an energy community is not only about a good idea and a technical solution. It is also about steady administrative work. 

Some obstacles were addressed through explanations and clarifications, while others simply required time and patience. Personal networks in the area also helped move the process forward. 

StartSun gave a framework and an opportunity 

StartSun played a significant role in the development of the Obinitsa energy community. The project brought funding, and the project action plan made the creation of the energy cooperative easier and more logical. 

Financial support was essential. Without it, it would have been difficult for the community to build such a solution. But funding was not the only value. The project also made it possible to see how renewable energy is used in other countries and what opportunities and problems neighbouring communities face. 

This broadened the understanding that a local energy solution is not only a question of one cold storage facility or one company. It can be part of a larger shift in which a community thinks through how to use its resources more wisely. 

The impact of the solar park and storage system can be assessed more fully once the system is complete and operating. A larger engagement event is planned for the end of summer. 

Own electricity means lower risk 

In practical terms, Oma Elekter means that the Obinitsa community can reduce the burden caused by electricity costs and reliability risks for local agricultural producers. 

This is not merely symbolic “own electricity”. It is a concrete way to ease the pressure caused by expensive electricity and make local production more secure. 

The energy community has also brought together people from different fields. People who might not otherwise have come together around the same goal have contributed to the cooperative. In this way, the project has strengthened other forms of cooperation in the area. 

One of the most important turning points was the moment when the cooperative was officially established at the notary. 

“That was the moment when it really felt that this now exists,” it is recalled. 

If the same journey were started again today, the group would know better how to account for documents and processing times. Awareness of the requirements is now much greater. 

The Obinitsa experience shows that starting an energy community requires a real problem to solve. A general wish to do something is not always enough. A problem creates a need, and a need creates the will to act. 

The next step for Oma Elekter is simple, but telling: to find the next problem that can be solved together. Obinitsa shows that even complex local challenges can be addressed when a community has a clear need, open communication and people willing to act together. 

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