IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v10y2018i11p4106-d181570.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Leading from the Niche: Insights from a Strategic Dialogue of Renewable Energy Cooperatives in The Netherlands

Author

Listed:
  • Antonia Proka

    (Dutch Research Institute for Transitions, Erasmus University Rotterdam, 3062 PA Rotterdam, The Netherlands)

  • Derk Loorbach

    (Dutch Research Institute for Transitions, Erasmus University Rotterdam, 3062 PA Rotterdam, The Netherlands)

  • Matthijs Hisschemöller

    (Dutch Research Institute for Transitions, Erasmus University Rotterdam, 3062 PA Rotterdam, The Netherlands)

Abstract

Renewable energy cooperatives envision and manifest an alternative way of organising within the energy system (and beyond). Yet, despite their growth, it is uncertain whether such initiatives are able to increase and deepen their impact, leading the transition to an environmentally sustainable and socially just energy system. This paper presents insights from a strategic dialogue co-organised with the Dutch national interest group of renewable energy cooperatives “ODE Decentraal”. We used transition management as action research methodology to organise the dialogue to understand and support the transformative potential of the cooperative energy movement. The dialogue helped to clarify the challenges and possibilities for scaling energy cooperatives beyond the niche, supporting at the same time the participants to reflect, strategize and develop a shared transition agenda. This contribution presents and analyses our intervention and its impact, also specifically evaluating the potential of transition management to facilitate social learning processes, reflexivity and the development of strategic actions. Our intervention confirmed the hypothesis that actors in the niche often focus too much on the competition with the regime for individual goals, thereby failing to collectively strategize and engage with incumbent regimes in a systematic way.

Suggested Citation

  • Antonia Proka & Derk Loorbach & Matthijs Hisschemöller, 2018. "Leading from the Niche: Insights from a Strategic Dialogue of Renewable Energy Cooperatives in The Netherlands," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-21, November.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:11:p:4106-:d:181570
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/10/11/4106/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/10/11/4106/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Lars Moratis & Frans Melissen & Samuel O. Idowu (ed.), 2018. "Sustainable Business Models," CSR, Sustainability, Ethics & Governance, Springer, number 978-3-319-73503-0, October.
    2. Rogers, J.C. & Simmons, E.A. & Convery, I. & Weatherall, A., 2008. "Public perceptions of opportunities for community-based renewable energy projects," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 36(11), pages 4217-4226, November.
    3. Breukers, Sylvia & Hisschemöller, Matthijs & Cuppen, Eefje & Suurs, Roald, 2014. "Analysing the past and exploring the future of sustainable biomass. Participatory stakeholder dialogue and technological innovation systems research," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 81(C), pages 227-235.
    4. Markard, Jochen & Raven, Rob & Truffer, Bernhard, 2012. "Sustainability transitions: An emerging field of research and its prospects," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 41(6), pages 955-967.
    5. Antonia Proka & Matthijs Hisschemöller & Derk Loorbach, 2018. "Transition without Conflict? Renewable Energy Initiatives in the Dutch Energy Transition," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-19, May.
    6. Julie Battilana & Bernard Leca & Eva Boxenbaum, 2009. "How actors change institutions : Towards a theory of institutional entrepreneurship," Post-Print hal-00576509, HAL.
    7. Antonia Proka & P. J. Beers & Derk Loorbach, 2018. "Transformative Business Models for Sustainability Transitions," CSR, Sustainability, Ethics & Governance, in: Lars Moratis & Frans Melissen & Samuel O. Idowu (ed.), Sustainable Business Models, chapter 0, pages 19-39, Springer.
    8. Walker, Gordon & Devine-Wright, Patrick, 2008. "Community renewable energy: What should it mean," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 36(2), pages 497-500, February.
    9. van der Schoor, Tineke & Scholtens, Bert, 2015. "Power to the people: Local community initiatives and the transition to sustainable energy," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 43(C), pages 666-675.
    10. Marieke Oteman & Henk-Jan Kooij & Mark A. Wiering, 2017. "Pioneering Renewable Energy in an Economic Energy Policy System: The History and Development of Dutch Grassroots Initiatives," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(4), pages 1-21, April.
    11. Mumtaz Derya Tarhan, 2015. "Renewable Energy Cooperatives: A Review of Demonstrated Impacts and Limitations," Journal of Entrepreneurial and Organizational Diversity, European Research Institute on Cooperative and Social Enterprises, vol. 4(1), pages 104-120, August.
    12. Seyfang, Gill & Park, Jung Jin & Smith, Adrian, 2013. "A thousand flowers blooming? An examination of community energy in the UK," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 977-989.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Anne-Lorene Vernay & Carine Sebi, 2020. "Energy communities and their ecosystems A comparison of France and the Netherlands," Grenoble Ecole de Management (Post-Print) hal-02987790, HAL.
    2. Campos, Inês & Korsnes, Marius & Labanca, Nicola & Bertoldi, Paolo, 2024. "Can renewable energy prosumerism cater for sufficiency and inclusion?," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 197(C).
    3. Vernay, Anne-Lorène & Sebi, Carine, 2020. "Energy communities and their ecosystems: A comparison of France and the Netherlands," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 158(C).
    4. Deyana Spasova & Sibylle Braungardt, 2021. "Building a Common Support Framework in Differing Realities—Conditions for Renewable Energy Communities in Germany and Bulgaria," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-16, August.
    5. Nikolaos Sifakis & Tryfon Daras & Theocharis Tsoutsos, 2020. "How Much Energy Efficient are Renewable Energy Sources Cooperatives’ Initiatives?," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-22, March.
    6. Wittmayer, Julia M. & Avelino, Flor & Pel, Bonno & Campos, Inês, 2021. "Contributing to sustainable and just energy systems? The mainstreaming of renewable energy prosumerism within and across institutional logics," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 149(C).
    7. Michael Krug & Maria Rosaria Di Nucci & Lucas Schwarz & Irene Alonso & Isabel Azevedo & Massimo Bastiani & Anna Dyląg & Erik Laes & Arthur Hinsch & Gaidis Klāvs & Ivars Kudreņickis & Pouyan Maleki & G, 2023. "Implementing European Union Provisions and Enabling Frameworks for Renewable Energy Communities in Nine Countries: Progress, Delays, and Gaps," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-29, May.
    8. Dimitris Al. Katsaprakakis & Antonia Proka & Dimitris Zafirakis & Markos Damasiotis & Panos Kotsampopoulos & Nikos Hatziargyriou & Eirini Dakanali & George Arnaoutakis & Dimitrios Xevgenos, 2022. "Greek Islands’ Energy Transition: From Lighthouse Projects to the Emergence of Energy Communities," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-34, August.
    9. Anne-Lorene Vernay & Carine Sebi, 2020. "Energy communities and their ecosystems A comparison of France and the Netherlands," Post-Print hal-02987790, HAL.
    10. Esther C. van der Waal & Alexandra M. Das & Tineke van der Schoor, 2020. "Participatory Experimentation with Energy Law: Digging in a ‘Regulatory Sandbox’ for Local Energy Initiatives in the Netherlands," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-21, January.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Dick Magnusson & Jenny Palm, 2019. "Come Together—The Development of Swedish Energy Communities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-19, February.
    2. Klein, Sharon J.W. & Coffey, Stephanie, 2016. "Building a sustainable energy future, one community at a time," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 867-880.
    3. Busch, Henner & Ruggiero, Salvatore & Isakovic, Aljosa & Hansen, Teis, 2021. "Policy challenges to community energy in the EU: A systematic review of the scientific literature," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 151(C).
    4. Haji Bashi, Mazaher & De Tommasi, Luciano & Le Cam, Andreea & Relaño, Lorena Sánchez & Lyons, Padraig & Mundó, Joana & Pandelieva-Dimova, Ivanka & Schapp, Henrik & Loth-Babut, Karolina & Egger, Christ, 2023. "A review and mapping exercise of energy community regulatory challenges in European member states based on a survey of collective energy actors," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 172(C).
    5. Hoicka, Christina E. & MacArthur, Julie L., 2018. "From tip to toes: Mapping community energy models in Canada and New Zealand," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 121(C), pages 162-174.
    6. Dalia Streimikiene & Tomas Baležentis & Artiom Volkov & Mangirdas Morkūnas & Agnė Žičkienė & Justas Streimikis, 2021. "Barriers and Drivers of Renewable Energy Penetration in Rural Areas," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-28, October.
    7. Lynette A. M. H. Germes & Carina J. Wiekens & Lummina G. Horlings, 2021. "Success, Failure, and Impact of Local Energy Initiatives in The Netherlands," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-16, November.
    8. Marieke Oteman & Henk-Jan Kooij & Mark A. Wiering, 2017. "Pioneering Renewable Energy in an Economic Energy Policy System: The History and Development of Dutch Grassroots Initiatives," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(4), pages 1-21, April.
    9. Robin Eagle & Aled Jones & Alison Greig, 2017. "Localism and the environment: A critical review of UK Government localism strategy 2010–2015," Local Economy, London South Bank University, vol. 32(1), pages 55-72, February.
    10. Brummer, Vasco, 2018. "Community energy – benefits and barriers: A comparative literature review of Community Energy in the UK, Germany and the USA, the benefits it provides for society and the barriers it faces," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 187-196.
    11. Soares, N. & Martins, A.G. & Carvalho, A.L. & Caldeira, C. & Du, C. & Castanheira, É. & Rodrigues, E. & Oliveira, G. & Pereira, G.I. & Bastos, J. & Ferreira, J.P. & Ribeiro, L.A. & Figueiredo, N.C. & , 2018. "The challenging paradigm of interrelated energy systems towards a more sustainable future," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 95(C), pages 171-193.
    12. Holstenkamp, Lars & Kahla, Franziska, 2016. "What are community energy companies trying to accomplish? An empirical investigation of investment motives in the German case," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 97(C), pages 112-122.
    13. Antonia Proka & Matthijs Hisschemöller & Derk Loorbach, 2018. "Transition without Conflict? Renewable Energy Initiatives in the Dutch Energy Transition," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-19, May.
    14. Anke Fischer & Kirsty Holstead & Cary Y Hendrickson & Outi Virkkula & Alessandra Prampolini, 2017. "Community-led initiatives’ everyday politics for sustainability – Conflicting rationalities and aspirations for change?," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 49(9), pages 1986-2006, September.
    15. Beau Warbroek & Thomas Hoppe & Frans Coenen & Hans Bressers, 2018. "The Role of Intermediaries in Supporting Local Low-Carbon Energy Initiatives," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-28, July.
    16. Taghikhah, Firouzeh Rosa & Taghikhah, Masoud & Marshall, Jonathan Paul & Voinov, Alexey, 2024. "Navigating the community renewable energy landscape: An analytics-driven policy formulation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 362(C).
    17. Veronica Lupi & Chiara Candelise & Merce Almuni Calull & Sarah Delvaux & Pieter Valkering & Wit Hubert & Alessandro Sciullo & Nele Ivask & Esther van der Waal & Izaskun Jimenez Iturriza & Daniele Paci, 2021. "A Characterization of European Collective Action Initiatives and Their Role as Enablers of Citizens’ Participation in the Energy Transition," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-17, December.
    18. Vernay, Anne-Lorène & Sebi, Carine, 2020. "Energy communities and their ecosystems: A comparison of France and the Netherlands," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 158(C).
    19. Binod Prasad Koirala & Ellen van Oost & Henny van der Windt, 2020. "Innovation Dynamics of Socio-Technical Alignment in Community Energy Storage: The Cases of DrTen and Ecovat," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-22, June.
    20. Wirth, Steffen, 2014. "Communities matter: Institutional preconditions for community renewable energy," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 236-246.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:11:p:4106-:d:181570. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.