Abstract
Given the gaps between EU ambitions regarding energy community development and the current reality of clean energy communities in Europe, we explore a research framework enabling viable multi- and interdisciplinary research into new clean energy communities. We offer a definition of new clean energy communities, discuss their potential for wider dissemination and identify four factors that contribute to the current mismatch between ambitions and reality in energy community development. As a broader framework for interdisciplinary research into the field of new clean energy communities, we propose polycentric governance theory, considering the fact that the area of community energy systems is essentially multi-scalar, and that the rules of engagement in such systems are of great significance. This opens up four avenues for research on energy communities, which we outline in terms of enabling institutional contexts, potential for learning and transferability, business models and value propositions, and evaluation of outcomes and processes.
Highlights
In the ‘Clean Energy for all Europeans’ package [1], great hope rests on citizen as well as renewable energy communities to make energy systems more sustainable
Before setting out our ‘four avenues’ for research into new forms of energy communities based on the factors identified above, we offer a reflection on how to define the emerging communities under consider ation, followed by an introduction to polycentric governance theory and its main themes, with the latter serving as the basis for our proposed research avenues
Energy communities represent a promising form of citizen partici pation in decentralised energy systems and have the potential to create value for their members and society
Summary
In the ‘Clean Energy for all Europeans’ package [1], great hope rests on citizen as well as renewable energy communities to make energy systems more sustainable. Energy communities are still considered a niche phenomenon and their development depends on access to capital, technical knowledge and entrepreneurial skills [3–6] Their potential for replication or scaling up, and for engaging more widely with society to bring about clean energy transitions, has been limited so far. New social arrangements and technologies that encourage energy users’ engagement have stimulated the emer gence of new types of energy communities, including distributed renewable energy generation, distributed storage, electricity trading, and opportunities to create value through demand response [14]. With appropriate support, these communities can change the energy land scape from the bottom up [15]. 4) Scaling up energy community business models requires that their financial and non-monetary benefits for members and society can be demonstrated, along with guidance on how to achieve benefits and avoid failures
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