Research Perspectives on Renewable Energy Cooperatives in Germany: Empirical Insights and Theoretical Lenses

Özgür Yildiz, Jens Rommel, Sarah Debor, Lars Holstenkamp, Franziska Mey, Jakob Müller, Jörg Radtke and Judith Rognli

MPRA Paper from University Library of Munich, Germany

Abstract: Transformation of energy systems is influencing economic policy agendas all over the world, particularly so in industrialized countries. In this process, Germany has taken a pioneering role. Technical innovations, institutional frameworks, and business models established there are of interest for other countries trying to achieve broader use of renewable energies. Energy cooperatives have been an important building block of the energy transition in Germany, though their practical importance is neither quantitatively nor qualitatively reflected in the academic literature. Drawing on recently collected data, this paper presents an overview of German energy cooperatives in terms of their (1) organization, (2) membership, and (3) financing. We then review theories from economics and the social sciences that, on various levels, have been used to analyze cooperatives in other fields or other forms of community-driven organization. We discuss how these theories could be applied for a better understanding of energy cooperatives, derive a preliminary research agenda and assess the scope for interdisciplinary work among economists, sociologists, and other related disciplines.

Keywords: Business models; Decentralization; Energy cooperatives; Energy transition (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D23 L22 L32 L94 Q42 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014-04-14
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