Thinking, doing, organising: Prefiguring just and sustainable energy systems via collective prosumer ecosystems in Europe
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In: Energy Research and Social Science, Vol. 86, 102425, 01.04.2022.
Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Thinking, doing, organising
T2 - Prefiguring just and sustainable energy systems via collective prosumer ecosystems in Europe
AU - Wittmayer, Julia M.
AU - Campos, Inês
AU - Avelino, Flor
AU - Brown, Donal
AU - Doračić, Borna
AU - Fraaije, Maria
AU - Gährs, Swantje
AU - Hinsch, Arthur
AU - Assalini, Silvia
AU - Becker, Timon
AU - Marín-González, Esther
AU - Holstenkamp, Lars
AU - Bedoić, Robert
AU - Duić, Neven
AU - Oxenaar, Sem
AU - Pukšec, Tomislav
PY - 2022/4/1
Y1 - 2022/4/1
N2 - This article positions collective renewable energy prosumerism as a social movement that engages in energy system transformation. Collective renewable energy prosumer initiatives engage in ‘prefigurative’ work through their discursive framings (ways of thinking), their activities (ways of doing) and their understanding and enactment of social relations (ways of organising). The core of this article is a comparative analysis of the prefigurative work of 13 collective prosumers from 7 European countries (Belgium, Croatia, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, United Kingdom). The article discusses their contributions to energy system transformation, including renewable energy production, different mechanisms for involving citizens, local value creation, and the degree of desired and actual collaboration and networking within broader prosumer ecosystems. We then discuss these contributions against societal discourses and expectations towards prosumerism, such as energy democracy, energy justice, and environmental sustainability and decarbonisation. This reveals three tensions: 1) a focus on decarbonisation but not on broader environmental problems, 2) the involvement of certain people and not of others, and 3) the building of prosumer eco-systems while ignoring incumbency. Future research avenues are formulated to conclude the article.
AB - This article positions collective renewable energy prosumerism as a social movement that engages in energy system transformation. Collective renewable energy prosumer initiatives engage in ‘prefigurative’ work through their discursive framings (ways of thinking), their activities (ways of doing) and their understanding and enactment of social relations (ways of organising). The core of this article is a comparative analysis of the prefigurative work of 13 collective prosumers from 7 European countries (Belgium, Croatia, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, United Kingdom). The article discusses their contributions to energy system transformation, including renewable energy production, different mechanisms for involving citizens, local value creation, and the degree of desired and actual collaboration and networking within broader prosumer ecosystems. We then discuss these contributions against societal discourses and expectations towards prosumerism, such as energy democracy, energy justice, and environmental sustainability and decarbonisation. This reveals three tensions: 1) a focus on decarbonisation but not on broader environmental problems, 2) the involvement of certain people and not of others, and 3) the building of prosumer eco-systems while ignoring incumbency. Future research avenues are formulated to conclude the article.
KW - Management studies
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85120466771&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - https://www.mendeley.com/catalogue/2f63ba60-f790-3e93-aa9b-d7c8e4b346de/
U2 - 10.1016/j.erss.2021.102425
DO - 10.1016/j.erss.2021.102425
M3 - Journal articles
AN - SCOPUS:85120466771
VL - 86
JO - Energy Research and Social Science
JF - Energy Research and Social Science
SN - 2214-6296
M1 - 102425
ER -