ManagEnergy Expert Mission #25: Strengthening Energy Communities and Agency Services in Dublin

From 18–20 November 2025, ManagEnergy held its 25th Expert Mission at Codema - Dublin's Energy Agency, Ireland. The mission brought together representatives from CODEMA and experts from AURA-EE to exchange experiences and practical approaches on two key topics: supporting the emergence of energy communities and developing new services within growing energy agencies.

The visit opened with an exchange on the respective roles and missions of both agencies in advancing energy communities. AURA-EE shared its experience in supporting project leaders, including training modules and practical tools designed to accompany citizen-led initiatives throughout their development.

Among these tools was RESRisks, a serious game developed by Energie Partagée, the French national movement supporting citizen renewable energy projects. The game offers a practical and engaging way to explore the risks commonly encountered in community energy projects, from technical and regulatory challenges to citizen engagement, governance, and financing.

Supporting Growth and New Services within Energy Agencies

Beyond energy communities, the Expert Mission also focused on the internal development of energy agencies. Over the past three years, Codema has experienced strong growth in both its activities and staff numbers, creating a need for adapted organisational structures and management tools.

AURA-EE shared insights into its internal organisation and the evolution of its service offerings, prompting in-depth discussions on agency management, staff coordination, and long-term service development. These exchanges provided valuable reflections on how energy agencies can scale their activities while maintaining effectiveness and impact.

Expert and Host Reflections

Codema highlighted the value of the peer exchange for its entire team: “We found the Expert Mission extremely valuable for the entire team. We learned a great deal from AURA-EE, and it was rewarding to exchange experiences as energy agencies working toward the same goals. The visit offered useful insights into the emerging challenges and opportunities within the energy landscape and helped us reflect on how we can deliver more effective and impactful services.”

From the expert perspective, the mission also revealed strong potential for continued collaboration: “We were impressed by the strong growth of the Codema agency in recent years," shares Etienne Viénot, Head of European and International Affairs  at AURA-EE and one of the Mission's experts. "Their ability to work with local public authorities has enabled them to significantly increase their activities. The mobilisation of European funds has allowed them to build expertise in areas that are still underdeveloped in Ireland, such as energy performance contracts and heating networks. Common projects between our agencies have already emerged, and we look forward to implementing them together.”
 

Peer Learning in Action

This Expert Mission demonstrated the value of structured peer learning between energy agencies facing similar challenges across Europe. By combining practical tools, organisational insights, and open exchange, the mission supported both agencies in strengthening their approaches to energy communities and service development.

Through its Expert Missions, ManagEnergy continues to facilitate knowledge exchange and cooperation among regional and local energy actors, supporting them in delivering effective and impactful energy transition solutions.

More about Expert Missions