The green energy cooperative Som Energia has completed the installation of its new Urban Generation Project (GURB) in Llinars del Vallès, which will primarily serve Cardedeu. This is the second GURB to be launched, following the one in Mataró, and is expected to be operational during the first quarter of 2026. The project's photovoltaic panels will distribute energy among residents and businesses in the area who join the project, in a shared self-consumption model that will allow them access to the panels. The installation, located in a warehouse in the Llinars Park industrial park, consists of 480 solar panels and has a capacity of 200 kW. It is estimated that it can serve between 250 and 300 homes and businesses in Cardedeu and part of Llinars del Vallès, within a two-kilometer radius. "With this project, we're taking another step towards bringing renewable energy generation closer to people, right in their own neighborhoods," explains Carles Adell, a member of the new generation projects team at Som Energia. This project is part of Som Energia's commitment to promoting a shared, local, and democratic self-consumption model that connects consumers with available spaces for installing solar panels. It also reinforces the cooperative's commitment to a fair and participatory energy transition.
An innovative self-consumption model
The Som Energia cooperative is promoting an innovative model that facilitates self-consumption for individuals and organizations who, for various reasons, cannot have their own photovoltaic installation. This model is embodied in GURB, a collective self-consumption service that utilizes urban rooftops to generate local renewable energy and distribute it among multiple users, whether for homes or businesses, within a limited radius. The first operational GURB project has been launched in the city of Mataró, in the Escorxador neighborhood. It is a 100 kW photovoltaic installation, deployed over an area of approximately 750 m2, and managed entirely by the cooperative. Som Energia assumes ownership, construction, management, and maintenance of the installation throughout its lifespan.
The power of GURB Its key feature lies in its proposal: to make renewable energy generation accessible to people who have traditionally been excluded from the self-consumption model, without them having to deal with paperwork, procedures, and maintenance. Furthermore, by utilizing existing rooftops in urban areas, it eliminates the need for a private roof, complex installations, or high initial investments.
Cardedeu: Do you want to be part of the collective self-consumption project?
Over the next two years, the cooperative plans to launch new GURB projects that are already at various stages of development. These projects represent a step forward in Som Energia's growth and consolidation strategy. Their importance lies both in their ability to expand the services and resources available to members and in reinforcing their commitment to a more efficient, sustainable, and locally rooted energy model. Furthermore, the continuity of these projects... GURB It contributes to strengthening the viability of the cooperative and increasing its social impact, promoting a collective and participatory energy transition.
How to participate in a GURB
Som Energia's new service line aims to democratize local renewable energy generation by bringing it closer to urban environments and promoting collective self-consumption.
For those interested in participating in a GURB (Local Energy Management System), the process is simple: you need to have an electricity supply contract with Som Energia and reside within a two-kilometer radius of the installation, or have your supply point within that radius. Participants in the Cardedeu GURB can choose between a contracted power of 0.5 kW or 1 kW (the monthly fee varies depending on the power level). Registration for the Cardedeu GURB is now open. It is also possible for individuals, companies, or organizations that own rooftops to contribute these spaces to the cooperative, transforming them into shared generation facilities within cities.
GURB represents a commitment to making the energy transition a reality from within cities, building energy communities based on collaboration and shared benefit. Thanks to this model, local clean energy is no longer a privilege for those who can afford to install panels, but becomes accessible to many more people. A key step towards a fairer, more sustainable, and more participatory energy future.
