Abstract
Energy Communities (ECS) and Self- consumption structures are receiving significant attention in Europe due to their potential contribution to a sustainable energy transition and the decarbonization process of the energy system. They are considered a powerful instrument to involve end-consumers in active participation in the energy system by becoming self-producers of renewable electricity and increasing their awareness of their potential contribution by adapting their energy behavior to the global or local power system needs. An EC can also contribute to alleviating energy poverty, which occurs when low incomes and poorly efficient buildings and appliances place a high proportion of energy costs on households. The main driver would be the reduction in energy costs obtained if some members agree to share their surplus electricity at a lower price with vulnerable members. Similarly, a renewable EC (REC) can facilitate access to energy assets by sharing the investments among the community members and exploiting existing complementarities. For example, vulnerable members could share their roofs with others to install solar panels in exchange for low-cost electricity. RECs can also help vulnerable members by reducing the barriers to accessing subsidies for building efficiency investments thanks to collective community initiatives, easing information dissemination and helping with bureaucratic processes. © 2003-2012 IEEE.

Abstract
The member states of the European Union (EU) are actively reassessing their National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs) [1] to jointly address climate challenges and the impacts of the COVID pandemic and gas supply crisis. This study extends the analyses described in [2] by assessing the impact of the updated NECP drafts for Portugal and Spain [3], [4] on the Iberian Electricity Market (MIBEL). For this, we use CEVESA, a market model for the long-term planning and operation of MIBEL that computes the joint dispatch of energy and secondary reserve of the two interconnected single-price zones. Departing from the expected evolution of the electricity generation technologies and demand available in the NECP drafts, joint scenarios for Portugal and Spain are built with the latest CO2 allowances and fuel prices projections and the latest available historical data of hydro and renewable generation profiles. Simulations provide estimates for the expected market prices, technology generation dispatch, and the usage of the capacity of the interconnection lines between both countries, highlighting potential concerns and knowledge on future NECPs.