A Process Approach to Mainstreaming Civic Energy

Gerard Mcgovern,Thomas Klenke

doi:10.3390/en11112914

Abstract

Civic energy has developed to become a key driver of a transition of the energy system to a locally-sourced, renewables-based economy whereby individual civic energy initiatives exhibit highly diverse forms and agency characteristics. Together they challenge the incumbent corporate, fossil-based energy system and its underlying techno-economic paradigm. For civic energy to meet this challenge, we argue that the potential for process optimization needs to be systematically assessed and propose a civic energy process design as a continuous improvement process in order to address the need for professionalization and capture the synergies presented by process standardization. The resulting Civic Energy Cycle deploys elements of creative destruction to identify alternative value propositions. The Cycle comprises Initiation, Planning, Roll-Out, Refection and Adoption phases, and a total of eleven process stages that extend beyond standardized technical and business processes; in addition to economic process objectives, the targeted social-economic and community benefits play a key role in shaping the process. The civic energy process is presented as a social transition framework that makes the shift in energy patterns manageable and acts as a mechanism that serves community needs.

Highlights

IntroductionCivic Energy as a Paradigm Shift “Civic energy” (CE) [1] is an umbrella term that denotes a wide range of decentralized energy models, both traditional and recently launched, and groups many close synonyms such as community energy [2], community power [3], local energy [4], regional energy [5] or zero kilometer energy [6]
Civic Energy as a Paradigm Shift “Civic energy” (CE) [1] is an umbrella term that denotes a wide range of decentralized energy models, both traditional and recently launched, and groups many close synonyms such as community energy [2], community power [3], local energy [4], regional energy [5] or zero kilometer energy [6].civic energy (CE) initiatives are characterized by a rich diversity of stakeholder motivations [7] reflected in the high individuality of civic agents [8]
For the purposes of this paper we adopt the broad definition of civic energy put forward by the European Economic and Social Committee, namely “decentralized renewable energy generation owned or operated by citizens, local initiatives, communities, local authorities, charities, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), farmers, cooperatives, or small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), creating a stream of local value that can stay within the region” [13], Energies 2018, 11, 2914; doi:10.3390/en11112914

Summary

Introduction

Civic Energy as a Paradigm Shift “Civic energy” (CE) [1] is an umbrella term that denotes a wide range of decentralized energy models, both traditional and recently launched, and groups many close synonyms such as community energy [2], community power [3], local energy [4], regional energy [5] or zero kilometer energy [6]. Mathews draws on the work of Freeman and Perez and Kondratiev’s wave theory to illustrate that a switch to decentralized power generation from dispersed renewable energy sources is paramount to a shift in the dominant techno-economic paradigm (TEP) [23] According to this analysis, that identifies dynamic economy factors over long periods of time, the emergence of decentralized renewable energy marks a 6th Kondratiev-wave, while the 4th centralized, carbon lock-in TEP remains stubbornly clinging to its place, supported by vested interest and political obstruction, despite its current extension into the 5th TEP based on IT/ICT flexibility. The rest of this paper is structured as follows: Section 2 outlines key considerations inherent to a process approach to developing a CE design framework; Section 3 integrates individual CE processes and sub-processes into a coherent continuous improvement process design, the Civic Energy Cycle, and proposes a generic CE process language; Section 4 allocates a selection of relevant CE research findings to the phases of the Cycle and discusses the implications of its adoption, and; Section 5 a level playing field for CE in energy market rulings is briefly previewed

Methodological Approach

The Civic Energy Cycle

Process Stages and Sub-Processes

Process Interaction

Discussion

Conclusions and Policy Implications