The Kistelek Energy Community is setting a new benchmark for grassroots energy transformation in Hungary. This locally driven initiative, launched in 2022, brings together 50 households and the Kistelek municipality in a powerful collaboration. Over a planned three-year period, the community is showing that sustainable energy is not only feasible, but also financially rewarding and socially unifying.
Together with MET3R and national stakeholders, the project demonstrates the power of citizen-led renewable energy solutions. Most importantly, Kistelek now serves as a replicable model for other small towns across Europe.
Unlike many top-down initiatives, the Kistelek Energy Community is deeply rooted in local cooperation. From the very beginning, residents were actively involved in planning, decision-making, and implementation. This high level of engagement has created a strong sense of ownership and trust, which continues to fuel the project’s success.
Furthermore, the municipality played a key role in coordinating efforts and aligning local interests. As a result, what started as a pilot has grown into a functioning energy community with real-world impact.
Since 2022, residents have installed 35 new solar panel systems across the town. Another 15 households and three municipal buildings, already equipped with solar systems, also joined the community. These rooftop installations deliver real benefits to local families. The 35 residential prosumers and the municipality now share locally produced solar energy.
“Fluctuating energy prices have recently become a major concern for our citizens, but operating in an energy community setup can substantially reduce financial risk and the chance of energy poverty,” said János Domonics, vice-mayor of Kistelek.
Initial results show clear financial gains. Residential members save 40–45% on their monthly bills. As Hungary improves its legislation around energy communities, members expect even greater savings through more advanced cooperation models. The long-term goal is to reduce all members’ bills by half.
MET3R’s smart metering and energy tracking tools help residents monitor their energy use and optimize consumption. The project promotes data-driven decision-making, which boosts energy literacy and encourages self-sufficiency. Members now better understand their consumption patterns and make smarter energy choices.
The community also reduced its carbon emissions by approximately 30% by replacing the national grid’s coal- and nuclear-heavy mix with 100% locally produced solar ener
What truly sets the Kistelek Energy Community apart is its use of peer-to-peer energy sharing, enabled by cutting-edge technology. Through MET3R’s DECENT.EC platform, surplus solar energy generated by households is digitally shared across the community. This approach ensures that locally produced renewable energy is used where it’s needed most – within the community itself.
By using this decentralized system, the community not only maximizes the value of its solar production but also takes a major step toward energy independence. The DECENT.EC platform makes energy flows transparent and efficient, helping to distribute resources fairly and optimize local consumption.
In addition, the platform supports real-time energy monitoring, smart billing, and transparent data access. These features empower residents to make informed decisions about their energy use – laying the foundation for true energy democracy. Through this technology, individuals become active participants, not just passive consumers, in the local energy ecosystem.
In February 2025, the Kistelek Energy Community welcomed a high-level delegation from MVM, Hungary’s leading energy group. The visit marked a major milestone in the project’s visibility and validation on a national scale. During the on-site meeting, community members shared personal experiences – emphasizing reduced energy bills, increased energy awareness, and a renewed sense of local cooperation.
The MET3R team introduced key technological components of the system, including Crypto-RTU and Crypto-Gateway devices, as well as the ZenGrid platform, which ensures secure, decentralized energy management. MVM representatives observed the system in action, including real-time device provisioning, inverter control, and household energy monitoring.
MVM’s engagement signals a growing national interest in replicable, community-driven energy models. Kistelek now stands not just as a success story, but as a blueprint for how smart grids and local renewables can work together – with people at the center.
As the energy landscape across Europe shifts, communities like Kistelek offer a glimpse into what the future could look like: decentralized, digital, and democratic. The Kistelek Energy Community demonstrates that meaningful change doesn’t have to start in capital cities or with large corporations. Instead, real transformation can begin in small towns – when people work together toward a shared goal.
By aligning EU funding, local engagement, and technical innovation, the project proves that the energy transition can be both bottom-up and impactful. And because the results speak for themselves, other towns are already looking to Kistelek as a blueprint.
The Kistelek Energy Community is more than a technical pilot – it’s a movement powered by people. With reduced energy costs, increased self-sufficiency, and a stronger sense of community, it shows how local action can make a global difference.
As more towns seek sustainable solutions, Kistelek stands ready to lead by example – proving that when residents unite, even small communities can spark big change.
