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Smartening Local Energy in Europe: A Comparative Analysis of Three Cases and Their Implications for Supporting Transformative Governance Practices

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  • Jake Barnes

    (Environmental Change Institute, School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QY, UK)

  • Sarah Darby

    (Environmental Change Institute, School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QY, UK)

  • Paula Hansen

    (Environmental Change Institute, School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QY, UK)

Abstract

Achieving global sustainability goals, while maintaining or increasing access to energy services, calls for agile and many-faceted responses. The pursuit of ‘smart local energy systems’ is one such response that involves a paradigm shift, taking the concept of an energy system away from large-scale power plants and fuel stores towards more flexible configurations to harness renewable energy flows, with highly distributed physical assets, actors, skills and controls. Smart local energy requires citizens, industry, utilities and government bodies to collaborate and learn together in order to develop effective modes of governing that meet sustainability goals and provide reliable, accessible energy services. In this article, we introduce practical implications of creating more localised energy systems with the aid of digital technologies. We then analyse three emerging European energy communities in terms of their actors, activities and alliances, to build an understanding of governance practices within and beyond the communities that are capable of fostering transformative change towards sustainability. From this, we argue that maintaining progress towards smart local energy systems requires transformative governance within and beyond initiatives. It requires local governance arrangements that are agile and responsive to new actors and activities as well as to broader external circumstances.

Suggested Citation

  • Jake Barnes & Sarah Darby & Paula Hansen, 2024. "Smartening Local Energy in Europe: A Comparative Analysis of Three Cases and Their Implications for Supporting Transformative Governance Practices," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(10), pages 1-15, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:10:p:3922-:d:1390238
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. Hans-Werner Franz & Josef Hochgerner & Jürgen Howaldt, 2012. "Challenge Social Innovation: An Introduction," Springer Books, in: Hans-Werner Franz & Josef Hochgerner & Jürgen Howaldt (ed.), Challenge Social Innovation, edition 127, pages 1-16, Springer.
    4. Ford, Rebecca & Hardy, Jeffrey, 2020. "Are we seeing clearly? The need for aligned vision and supporting strategies to deliver net-zero electricity systems," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 147(C).
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    1. Aamina Teladia & Henny van der Windt, 2025. "Lights, Policy, Action: A Multi-Level Perspective on Policy Instrument Mix Interactions for Community Energy Initiatives," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(11), pages 1-35, May.

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