A Characterization of European Collective Action Initiatives and Their Role as Enablers of Citizens’ Participation in the Energy Transition

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, Nives Della Valle, Giorgos Koukoufikis and Tessa Dunlop
Additional contact information
Veronica Lupi: GREEN Research Centre, Bocconi University, Via Röntgen 1, 20136 Milan, Italy
Chiara Candelise: GREEN Research Centre, Bocconi University, Via Röntgen 1, 20136 Milan, Italy
Merce Almuni Calull: VITO, Boeretang 200, 2400 Mol, Belgium
Sarah Delvaux: VITO, Boeretang 200, 2400 Mol, Belgium
Pieter Valkering: VITO, Boeretang 200, 2400 Mol, Belgium
Wit Hubert: Institute of Sociology, Jagiellonian University, 30-962 Krakow, Poland
Alessandro Sciullo: Department of Culture, Politics and Society, University of Turin, Lungo Dora Siena 100, 10124 Torino, Italy
Nele Ivask: Tartu Regional Energy Agency (TREA), 51009 Tartu, Estonia
Esther van der Waal: Integrated Research on Energy, Environment and Society, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Groningen, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
Izaskun Jimenez Iturriza: TECNALIA, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Mikeletegi Pasealekua 2, 20009 Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain
Daniele Paci: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (J.R.C.), 21027 Ispra, Italy
Giorgos Koukoufikis: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (J.R.C.), 1755 LE Petten, The Netherlands
Tessa Dunlop: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (J.R.C.), 21027 Ispra, Italy

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 24, 1-17

Abstract: This paper provides novel additional evidence on the characteristics of Collective Action Initiatives (CAIs), investigating their role within the European energy sector. It analyses and presents results of a survey administered in six European countries: the Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, Poland, Estonia, and Spain. CAIs are studied in light of four key dimensions, those being their creation dynamics, the way they are organized, financed, and the activities they undertake. The results presented are also interpreted to reflect on their role as drivers of social innovation (SI) within energy transition in Europe. The analysis shows that the contribution of CAIs to the energy transition has a much wider scope than the development of energy projects and provision of energy services. CAIs are intrinsically socially innovative models of implementation as characterised by a strong level of citizen involvement and participation. Moreover, they have a potential multi-level role in the energy transition, from the technological and social perspectives. Indeed, alongside traditional energy activities, our results show that CAIs are evolving and expanding towards socially innovative activities, raising awareness on environmental issues, promoting citizens’ mobilization, and fostering social inclusion.

Keywords: energy communities; community energy; energy transition; green energy; citizen participation; social innovation (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: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/24/8452/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/24/8452/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jeners:v:14:y:2021:i:24:p:8452-:d:702615

Access Statistics for this article

Energies is currently edited by Ms. Agatha Cao

More articles in Energies from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().