Sommario
The energy transition can truly start from the ground up, thanks to an innovative financing model that directly involves citizens and local communities. This is the spirit of Scaling SUPER-HEERO, a project funded by the European Union’s LIFE programme and officially launched in Milan on September 5, 2024.
The initiative represents the natural evolution of SUPER-HEERO, which successfully tested crowdlending in the supermarket sector. The results achieved in three NaturaSì stores in Verona, Pordenone, and Ponte S. Nicolò (PA) were very encouraging: €185,534 raised from around 200 investors, completed energy efficiency interventions, photovoltaic systems installed, 175 MWh of annual energy savings, and 75 tons of CO₂ avoided – the equivalent of about 7,500 trees.
This model proved to be a success and was presented as a case study by Massimo Fuccaro (Senior Consultant in Financing, Risk and Bankability) in an in an article on innovative financial instruments for energy efficiency in buildings, published on the European Build Up portal.
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The SUPER-HEERO methodology is based on three key instruments: Energy Performance Contracts (EPC), product-service contracts, and crowdlending to engage the community.
Today, Scaling SUPER-HEERO takes this approach beyond supermarkets, making it accessible to schools, sports centers, hotels, and restaurants, overcoming financial barriers and promoting scalable, replicable solutions across Italy.
Objectives of Scaling SUPER-HEERO
Case study: Agricola Palestra
A concrete example of this vision comes from Belgioioso, in the province of Pavia, where Agricola Palestra was able to install a 78.2 kWp photovoltaic system and a 30 kWh storage system thanks to funds raised through the Scaling SUPER-HEERO crowdlending campaign. The fundraising, coordinated by R2M Solution, concluded on July 30 with impressive results: €103,476 raised and 80 investors involved.
The system is already installed and wiring is in progress. Soon, the sports center will be able to produce clean energy valued at an estimated €25,000 per year, delivering direct economic benefits and reducing emissions for the entire community.
This approach demonstrates that the energy transition can be participatory and shared: citizens are no longer mere spectators, but become co-investors and co-creators of a more sustainable future.
The system is already installed and wiring is in progress. Soon, the sports center will be able to produce clean energy valued at an estimated €25,000 per year, delivering direct economic benefits and reducing emissions for the entire community.
This approach demonstrates that the energy transition can be participatory and shared: citizens are no longer mere spectators, but become co-investors and co-creators of a more sustainable future.
Partnerships and Collaborations
The project brings together a consortium of 11 partners with expertise in sustainable energy, innovative finance, and community engagement, ensuring a real and lasting impact in Italy:
Cleanwatts Digital Sa, Ener2Crowd Srl Sb, Expofin S.r.l., Finergy S.r.l., Fondazione Fenice Onlus, Greentime Hub S.r.l., Icopower Srl, Istituto per la Cooperazione Universitaria Onlus, R2M Solution Srl (coordinator), Sogesca S.r.l., Stichting Life Terra
The challenge of the energy transition does not concern only governments and large companies: it can start from the ground up, thanks to innovative models that bring together communities, businesses, and citizens. With Scaling Super Heero,
everyone can become a driver of change, transforming energy into a shared and sustainable resource.
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Updated: 1 October 2025
