RP3007: Opportunities and challenges for the development and implementation of community-scale renewable energy projects

_{Peer Reviewed Research Publications}

RP3007: Journal Article: Who owns an energy transition? Strategic action fields and community wind energy in Denmark

This paper investigates the development of, and changes in, the field of community renewable energy in Denmark since it commenced in the late 1970s. The focus is on community wind projects.

The authors use an organisational and institutional theory perspective following Fligstein and McAdam’s concept of strategic action fields. Within this framework the authors explore the rise, decline and revitalisation of CRE fields and respond to the research question of ‘how and why the field of CRE in Denmark changed’. Input data comprise document analysis supplemented by quantitative and qualitative data analysis.

The results indicate the following: firstly, the mobilisation of CRE action is closely related to normative elements of shared identification and objectives that go beyond environmental and technology motivations. Secondly the state dependence and growth trajectory requires some additional support structures that are able to reflect the unique nature of CRE projects. Thirdly, top-down measures accompanied by local approaches ensure that the acceptance of RE can be fostered through the CRE approach.

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RP3007: Journal Article: Can local government play a greater role for community renewable energy? A case study from Australia.

Despite unsupportive political conditions for renewable energy (RE) in Australia, a new movement is emerging. About 70 Australian community groups have started to embrace the concept of community renewable energy (CRE) and develop their own projects. However, faced with a complex institutional environment and the absence of national government support, only a few groups have established operating CRE projects as yet. In this situation the role of local government (LG) ‘closest to the people’ deserves more attention.

By presenting empirical evidence from an Australia-wide survey and a number of semi-structured interviews, the authors identify motivations, barriers and opportunities of LGs in RE deployment, giving special attention to the role LGs in enabling CRE initiatives. The authors' survey finds that RE generation by LGs has become a widespread budget relevant activity. The majority of LGs have yet to recognise the social benefits associated with a community collaboration in the field of RE. However perceived financial and regulatory barriers limit the scope of action for LGs and their communities, and higher-level government support is essential. The Australian experience is relevant to other countries with similar political and institutional barriers.

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RP3007: Journal Article: Community renewable energy at a crossroads: a think piece on degrowth, technology, and the democratization of the German energy system

Degrowth activists and scholars have questioned society's current levels of material throughput and energy use. The energy sector is at the core of any modern economy, and Germany serves as an international showcase for the transition of a large industrialized economy to a low-carbon energy system. Diverse actors, organizational models, and technologies have contributed to the initiation of Germany's energy transition through a wide range of community renewable energy projects.

This think piece investigates how far these diverse actors embrace the aims of the Degrowth movement. It also provides a critical account of on-the-ground realities through six hypotheses and contrasts them with claims made by the Degrowth movement. It is suggested that community renewable energy projects are at a crossroads. While many projects have familiarized thousands of people with alternative economic models, there is little evidence of a general change in attitudes towards technology, consumption, or equity. In conclusion, a major effort is needed to open initiatives to less affluent actors, oppose recent trends of commodification, and prevent community renewable energy projects from being engrossed by the dominant political and economic system.

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RP3007: Journal Article: Energy cooperatives – the success story needs a new dynamic (Energiegenossenschaften das erfolgsmodell braucht neue dynamik)

Energy cooperatives, in which citizens volunteer their time, have become a symbol for a citizen-led energy change. However, new energy cooperatives find it difficult to establish because they are at a disadvantage compared to large suppliers since Renewable Energy Sources Act amendment. New business models are now in demand that help to establish this model on the energy market alongside municipal utilities and private utilities. For example, cooperative members need to build up know-how, create full-time jobs and mobilise risk capital.

Translated from:

Energiegenossenschaften — das Erfolgsmodell braucht neue Dynamik
Energiegenossenschaften, in denen sich Bürger(innen) ehrenamtlich engagieren, sind zu einem Symbol für eine bürgernahe Energiewende geworden.Neue Energiegenossenschaften werden jedoch kaum noch gegründet, weil sie nach der Novelle des Erneuerbare-Energien-Gesetzes gegenüber großen Anbietern benachteiligt sind. Gefragt sind nun neue Geschäftsmodelle, die helfen, dieses Modell neben Stadtwerken und privatwirtschaftlichen Versorgern auf dem Energiemarkt zu etablieren. So müssen die Genossenschaftsmitglieder etwa Know-how aufbauen, hauptamtliche Stellen schaffen und Risikokapital mobilisieren.

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