FEMISE is proud to launch its latest series of policy briefs, stemming from insightful conference papers presented at the FEMISE annual conference. These briefs are rooted in scientific research and offer actionable political recommendations to address critical challenges in the Euro-Mediterranean region.

The objective if this new series of Policy Briefs is to provide policy makers, international organisers, researchers and stakeholders in the EU-Med region with research-based policy recommendations that: advocate a better EU-Med integration;  promote mobilization of investments towards green transition and sustainable economies; empower young people through innovation and entrepreneurship advocacy; and facilitate a better and more equal integration of youth and women, aiming to create pathways for decent employment.

These Policy Briefs aspire to drive impactful dialogue and action across the EU-Med region.

Context

The Euro-Mediterranean region faces a dual challenge at the intersection of climate change and socio-economic inequality. Rising temperatures, water scarcity, and more frequent extreme weather events are intensifying pressure on already vulnerable energy systems, while many rural, peri-urban, and marginalized communities continue to experience energy poverty, high energy costs, and limited economic opportunities. Despite the region’s exceptional solar potential, energy systems remain largely centralized, often failing to reach underserved areas efficiently or equitably.

In this context, decentralized solar energy has emerged as a promising alternative to traditional centralized models. Community-owned solar projects, self-production schemes, and small-scale local installations offer clean and affordable electricity while bypassing infrastructural constraints and reducing dependence on fossil fuels. Beyond environmental benefits, decentralized solar energy holds strong potential to empower communities, stimulate local economic development, create green jobs, and strengthen social cohesion. However, outdated regulatory frameworks, high upfront investment costs, and limited access to tailored financing continue to hinder the scaling-up of these solutions across the Euromed region.

Summary

This policy brief explores the transformative potential of decentralized solar energy systems to advance climate action, social equity, and community empowerment across the Euro-Mediterranean region. Drawing on case studies from Spain, Tunisia, Morocco, and Lebanon, it demonstrates how localized solar initiatives can reduce energy poverty, lower household energy costs, and enhance energy autonomy, while simultaneously generating employment, supporting vocational training, and fostering community participation in energy governance.

The analysis shows that decentralized solar energy can deliver significant socio-economic benefits in both rural and urban contexts. Community-owned projects in Spain highlight the role of cooperative models in strengthening local economies and social cohesion, while self-production schemes in Tunisia and solar-powered agricultural cooperatives in Morocco illustrate how decentralized systems can support rural livelihoods, food security, and sustainable agriculture. In urban environments such as Beirut, decentralized solar installations provide cost-effective alternatives to diesel generators, mitigating chronic power shortages and environmental harm.

Despite these positive outcomes, the brief identifies persistent barriers to wider adoption, including regulatory bias toward centralized energy systems, fragmented policy frameworks, and insufficient financing mechanisms. To unlock the full potential of decentralized solar energy, the policy brief calls for streamlined regulations, innovative financing tools, stronger public-private partnerships, and targeted investments in local capacity building. It concludes that, with coordinated policy reforms and regional cooperation, decentralized solar energy can become a cornerstone of a just, inclusive, and sustainable energy transition in the Euro-Mediterranean region.

Read the full Policy Brief no.15 here.

The opinions and contents of this document are the sole responsibility of the authors and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of FEMISE, IEMED, ERF or the AECID