Abstract
Title: Community energy: complex and vulnerable
Authors: Clemens Bernardt, Alex van Spijk, Johan Lugies, Tineke van der Schoor Affiliation: Centre of Expertise NoorderRuimte, Hanze University of Applied Sciences
Energy initiatives in the north of the Netherlands struggle to realize their ideals to reduce global carbon dioxide emissions and improve their own locality through the local production and distribution of sustainable energy. This is largely due to time-consuming financial, legal, fiscal and spatial procedures, and the lack of necessary support for the realization of complex sustainable energy projects. Despite the often-strong motivation and competence of the people involved in these small-scale organizations, the undertaking of complex projects may be over-demanding. Building on cultural theory, this paper discusses the potential vulnerability of these organizations to internal and external destabilization due to the long-term work required by these projects. The paper’s empirical basis consists of a multiple case-study, conducted in cooperation with four local energy cooperatives. During twelve focus-groups sessions, the main success and failure factors affecting the energy projects of these four cooperatives were discussed with (1) the projects’ initiators; (2) involved governmental organizations; and (3) local companies and citizens participating in these projects. Based on our findings, we make suggestions to enhance the stability of these organizations and to acquire the necessary local support, relevant knowledge and competences for the realization of their sustainable energy projects.
