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| 1 |
ID:
181060
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| Summary/Abstract |
The Energy Union and the European Green Deal advocate the participation of citizens and communities in the energy transition, which encourages a bottom-up approach in the implementation of sustainable energy initiatives. Both are in tune with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, which attempt to involve all members of society in the sustainability path. The reality in EU member states, however, is that community energy still lacks the necessary regulatory framework to compete with large utility companies. This may indicate that the governance framework is lagging behind, still not ready to include communities (collective citizens) as full participants in the energy transition.
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| 2 |
ID:
190607
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| Summary/Abstract |
Energy insecurity is part of everyday life for many remote and Indigenous communities across the North. Community energy is emerging as a solution to address enduring energy challenges in remote regions, but the success of community energy initiatives hinges, in part, on adequate and accessible government instruments. Formal policies and rules to advance energy transition play an essential role in community energy, yet there is limited understanding of government instruments to support community energy in northern and Indigenous communities. This paper provides a critical assessment of government instruments for community energy in northern, remote, and Indigenous communities in Canada. Based on interviews with 48 actors engaged in northern community energy, results show a range of available instruments. While each serves different functions, financial supports and community ownership instruments emerge as dominant needs for community energy in the North. However, many northern and remote Indigenous communities lack the capacity to access supports when they are available, are competing against each other for limited resources, or are constrained by the rules and regulations of traditional and centralized energy ownership systems. A diversity of complimentary and reinforcing instruments is essential, sensitive to community needs, capacities, and aspirations.
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| 3 |
ID:
111419
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| Publication |
2012.
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| Summary/Abstract |
There is much current interest in the potential of community-based renewable energy projects to contribute to transition towards low carbon energy systems. As well as displacing fossil fuel consumption by increasing renewable energy generation, projects are expected to have a range of social impacts which may result in additional positive sustainability outcomes. These include potential to increase: acceptance of renewable energy developments; awareness of renewable and sustainable energy technologies and issues; uptake of low carbon technologies; and sustainable/pro-environmental behaviours. To date however, there has been little investigation of whether and how these impacts occur. This paper presents results from qualitative research investigating the social impacts of a community woodfuel project as experienced by project participants and other local stakeholders. Findings show projects can raise awareness of renewable energy technologies and increase uptake of renewables. Overall the case study project successfully changed the local social context for development of woodfuel heating, reducing risk for all involved in the future development of this sector, particularly in the immediate locality. There was some evidence of increased engagement with wider sustainability issues but this was limited to direct participants, suggesting local projects need to be supported by wider systemic change to maximise impacts.
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| 4 |
ID:
150057
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| Summary/Abstract |
Community energy has become an increasingly important issue in academia and in energy policy circles worldwide. Citizens jointly investing in and operating renewable energy installations have played an essential role in countries such as Germany or Denmark. Building on and extending previous studies, we collect survey data on investment motives for a stratified random sample of German community energy companies. Structural variables are selected using a socio-ecological-technical systems framework. This study aims to identify differences within the community energy sector to better understand investment behaviour and the effects of policy changes. Despite the small sample coverage at the individual member level, the preliminary results of this study suggest that, first, community energy forms a specific type of social investment and that, second, there are significant differences between community energy companies, especially regarding the assessment of the return motive. This motive plays a more prominent role in limited partnerships than in cooperatives and for community wind than for companies focusing on solar or biomass. While these and other factors are highly interrelated, our data indicate that the social setting and geographical and climatic conditions are the critical ones here. These findings may guide further research.
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