ENERGIZING COMMUNITIES THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH EXTERNAL ACTORS: SMALL-SCALE HYDROPOWER PROJECTS IN JAPAN

Abstract

This study aims to specify the contextual conditions that allow for the success of community renewable energy projects, against the background of the expanding use of renewable energy. It analyzes cases where farmers invested in organizations to establish ownership of hydropower plants in the Chugoku region, Japan. Community renewable energy projects derived from local initiatives to provide an alternative energy resource and serve as a catalyst for rural development. However, the costs of small hydropower plant construction and the expert knowledge required for their operation could hinder the diffusion of the technology. Population decline and aging in rural communities also constrain the development of community renewable energy projects. This study presents cases that illuminate the conditions enabling these organizations to succeed in securing the necessary resources for the operation of their renewable energy plants. The survey illustrates how studied organizations have opted to collaborate with external actors to construct or refurbish their plants. The findings indicate that as building partnerships with external actors often becomes essential, it is vital to develop a business-minded framework in which both communities and external actors can financially benefit from introducing small hydropower projects. The cases also reveal that in building collaborative relationships, broad disparities exist between communities and external actors in financial power and expert knowledge, which give the latter substantial advantages in negotiations. An additional important claim derived is that, for an effective partnership that enables a successful community renewable energy project, a third party with expert knowledge and the ability to audit partnership-building processes could play a crucial role in securing community initiatives and independence.