In its most recent Energy Union package, the European Union puts citizens at the core of the cleanenergy transitions. Beyond policy, disruptive innovations in energy sectors are challenging thetraditional business model of large energy utilities. One such disruptive, social innovation is theemergence of new clean energy communities (“NEWCOMERS”).The possible benefits of these “NEWCOMERS” for their members and for society at large are stillemerging and their potential to support the goals of the Energy Union is unclear. Using a highlyinnovative holistic approach – drawing on cutting edge theories and methods from a broad range ofsocial sciences coupled with strong technical knowledge and industry insight – the NEWCOMERSconsortium will analyse European energy communities from various angles. By taking aninterdisciplinary approach and through employing co-creation strategies, in which researchparticipants are actively involved in the design and implementation of the research, theNEWCOMERS project will deliver practical recommendations about how the European Union aswell as national and local governments can support new clean energy communities to help themflourish and unfold their potential benefits for citizens and the Energy Union.