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What factors enable community leadership of renewable energy projects? Lessons from a woodfuel heating initiative

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  • Jennifer C Rogers
  • Eunice A Simmons
  • Ian Convery
  • Andrew Weatherall

Abstract

Increasing renewable energy generation is fundamental to sustainable development as current reliance on fossil fuel combustion is an environmentally damaging, inequitable use of finite resources with far-reaching negative social impacts. To date, UK energy policy has sought to increase renewable energy capacity by encouraging large-scale commercially led developments. Recently, however, there has been growing interest in the scope for alternative small scale and community-led renewable energy development. This case study research from northwest England investigates the development of a community-led woodfuel heating project in a remote rural setting. Qualitative data from project participants’ interviews show the project was conceived as means of addressing multiple threats to the sustainability of their rural community. Participants’ vision of the project was found to fit the eco-economy paradigm.

Suggested Citation

  • Jennifer C Rogers & Eunice A Simmons & Ian Convery & Andrew Weatherall, 2012. "What factors enable community leadership of renewable energy projects? Lessons from a woodfuel heating initiative," Local Economy, London South Bank University, vol. 27(2), pages 209-222, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:loceco:v:27:y:2012:i:2:p:209-222
    DOI: 10.1177/0269094211429657
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Mari Martiskainen, 2016. "The role of community leadership in the development of grassroots innovations," SPRU Working Paper Series 2016-10, SPRU - Science Policy Research Unit, University of Sussex Business School.
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    3. 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.
    4. Hicks, Jarra & Ison, Nicola, 2018. "An exploration of the boundaries of ‘community’ in community renewable energy projects: Navigating between motivations and context," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 113(C), pages 523-534.

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