Renewable Energy Prosumers in Mediterranean Viticulture Social–Ecological Systems

Ines Campos, Esther Marín-González, Guilherme Luz, João Barroso and Nuno Oliveira
Additional contact information
Ines Campos: Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes (CE3C), Faculty of Sciences, Lisbon University, 1649-004 Lisboa, Portugal
Esther Marín-González: Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes (CE3C), Faculty of Sciences, Lisbon University, 1649-004 Lisboa, Portugal
Guilherme Luz: Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes (CE3C), Faculty of Sciences, Lisbon University, 1649-004 Lisboa, Portugal
João Barroso: Sustainability Plan for Wines of Alentejo, Comissão Vitivinícola Regional Alentejana, 7005-485 Évora, Portugal
Nuno Oliveira: Ecosystem management, Esporão SA, 1400-315 Lisboa, Portugal

Sustainability, 2019, vol. 11, issue 23, 1-16

Abstract: The significant energy demands of wine production pose both a challenge and an opportunity for adopting a low-carbon, more sustainable and potentially less expensive energy model. Nevertheless, the (dis)incentives for the wider adoption of local production and self-consumption of energy (also known as “prosumerism”) from renewable energy sources (RESs) are still not sufficiently addressed, nor are the broader social–ecological benefits of introducing RES as part of a sustainable viticulture strategy. Drawing on the social–ecological systems (SESs) resilience framework, this article presents the results of a Living Lab (an action-research approach) implemented in Alentejo (South of Portugal), which is an important wine-producing Mediterranean region. The triangulation of results from the application of a multi-method approach, including quantitative and qualitative methods, provided an understanding of the constraining and enabling factors for individual and collective RES prosumer initiatives. Top enablers are related to society’s expectation for a greener wine production, but also the responsibility to contribute to reducing carbon emissions and energy costs; meanwhile, the top constraints are financial, legal and technological. The conclusions offer some policy implications and avenues for future research.

Keywords: prosumers; renewable energy sources; Mediterranean wineries; constraints and enablers; social–ecological system; resilience (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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