Collective Action and Social Innovation in the Energy Sector: A Mobilization Model Perspective

Jay Sterling Gregg, Sophie Nyborg, Meiken Hansen, Valeria Jana Schwanitz, August Wierling, Jan Pedro Zeiss, Sarah Delvaux, Victor Saenz, Lucia Polo-Alvarez, Chiara Candelise, Winston Gilcrease, Osman Arrobbio, Alessandro Sciullo and Dario Padovan
Additional contact information
Jay Sterling Gregg: Department of Technology, Management and Economics, Technology Transitions and System Innovation Division, UNEP-DTU Partnership, UN City, Marmorvej 51, 2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark
Sophie Nyborg: Department of Technology, Management and Economics, Innovation Division, DTU-Technical University of Denmark, Akademivej Building 358, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
Meiken Hansen: Department of Technology, Management and Economics, Innovation Division, DTU-Technical University of Denmark, Akademivej Building 358, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
Valeria Jana Schwanitz: Department of Environmental Sciences, HVL-Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Postbox 7030, 5020 Bergen, Norway
August Wierling: Department of Environmental Sciences, HVL-Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Postbox 7030, 5020 Bergen, Norway
Jan Pedro Zeiss: Department of Environmental Sciences, HVL-Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Postbox 7030, 5020 Bergen, Norway
Sarah Delvaux: VITO-Vlaamse Instelling voor Technologisch Onderzoek, 2400 Mol, Belgium
Victor Saenz: VITO-Vlaamse Instelling voor Technologisch Onderzoek, 2400 Mol, Belgium
Lucia Polo-Alvarez: TECNALIA-Parque Tecnológico de Bizkaia, Astondo Bidea, Edificio 700, 48160 Derio, Biakaia, Spain
Chiara Candelise: UB–GREEN (Centre for Research in Geography, Resources, Environment, Energy and Networks), ICEPT (Imperial Centre for Energy Policy and Technology), Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
Winston Gilcrease: Department of Culture, Politics and Society, UNITO-University of Turin, 10153 Turin, Italy
Osman Arrobbio: Department of Culture, Politics and Society, UNITO-University of Turin, 10153 Turin, Italy
Alessandro Sciullo: Department of Culture, Politics and Society, UNITO-University of Turin, 10153 Turin, Italy
Dario Padovan: Department of Culture, Politics and Society, UNITO-University of Turin, 10153 Turin, Italy

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 3, 1-24

Abstract: This conceptual paper applies a mobilization model to Collective Action Initiatives (CAIs) in the energy sector. The goal is to synthesize aspects of sustainable transition theories with social movement theory to gain insights into how CAIs mobilize to bring about niche-regime change in the context of the sustainable energy transition. First, we demonstrate how energy communities, as a representation of CAIs, relate to social innovation. We then discuss how CAIs in the energy sector are understood within both sustainability transition theory and institutional dynamics theory. While these theories are adept at describing the role energy CAIs have in the energy transition, they do not yet offer much insight concerning the underlying social dimensions for the formation and upscaling of energy CAIs. Therefore, we adapt and apply a mobilization model to gain insight into the dimensions of mobilization and upscaling of CAIs in the energy sector. By doing so we show that the expanding role of CAIs in the energy sector is a function of their power acquisition through mobilization processes. We conclude with a look at future opportunities and challenges of CAIs in the energy transition.

Keywords: collective action; social innovation; mobilization model; energy communities; energy collectives (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (14)

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