• Energy Research

Dataset of a survey conducted in an energy cooperative 395 responses (biased toward active participants) Data on : Socio-demographic Motivation to become member Participation in governance Volunteer participation Investment participation Satisfaction with the governance Satisfaction with information provided by the cooperative Perceived control over governance Trust in the cooperative Ecological orientation Perceived skills Données issues d'une enquête menée dans une coopérative d'énergie (SCIC) 395 réponses (surreprésentation des participants actifs) Données sur : Socio-démographie Motivation à devenir membre Participation à la gouvernance Participation bénévole Investissement Satisfaction à l'égard de la gouvernance Satisfaction à l'égard des informations fournies par la coopérative Contrôle perçu sur la gouvernance Confiance dans la coopérative Orientation écologique Compétences perçues

Dataset of a survey conducted in an energy cooperative 395 responses (biased toward active participants) Data on : Socio-demographic Motivation to become member Participation in governance Volunteer participation Investment participation Satisfaction with the governance Satisfaction with information provided by the cooperative Perceived control over governance Trust in the cooperative Ecological orientation Perceived skills Données issues d'une enquête menée dans une coopérative d'énergie (SCIC) 395 réponses (surreprésentation des participants actifs) Données sur : Socio-démographie Motivation à devenir membre Participation à la gouvernance Participation bénévole Investissement Satisfaction à l'égard de la gouvernance Satisfaction à l'égard des informations fournies par la coopérative Contrôle perçu sur la gouvernance Confiance dans la coopérative Orientation écologique Compétences perçues

Abstract Achieving climate-neutrality by mid-century and its intermediary reduction targets for 2030, notably the EU’s greenhouse gas emissions reduction of 55% by 2030, requires an accelerated transformation of our systems of production and consumption. In essence, such transformations are socio-technical change processes that require a combination of technological and social innovation. While it is widely acknowledged that ambitious climate and energy policies are needed to accelerate such transition processes, research and practise have largely focused on their importance for spurring technological innovation. In this research perspective, we argue that energy and climate policy making should pay more attention to social innovation as much needed additional puzzle piece for successful decarbonisation. Such social innovation is diverse, ranging from renewable energy cooperatives, to participatory incubation and experimentation, and crowdfunding as well as local electricity exchange. Based on a literature review that informed an EU policy dialogue bringing together policy makers, practitioners and researchers and followed up by a workshop with city administrations, twelve practical action points were co-created on how to better consider social innovation in energy and climate policy making in the EU (and beyond). We thereby hope to stimulate a broader discourse on the dual need for social and technological innovation for reaching climate-neutrality.

Abstract Achieving climate-neutrality by mid-century and its intermediary reduction targets for 2030, notably the EU’s greenhouse gas emissions reduction of 55% by 2030, requires an accelerated transformation of our systems of production and consumption. In essence, such transformations are socio-technical change processes that require a combination of technological and social innovation. While it is widely acknowledged that ambitious climate and energy policies are needed to accelerate such transition processes, research and practise have largely focused on their importance for spurring technological innovation. In this research perspective, we argue that energy and climate policy making should pay more attention to social innovation as much needed additional puzzle piece for successful decarbonisation. Such social innovation is diverse, ranging from renewable energy cooperatives, to participatory incubation and experimentation, and crowdfunding as well as local electricity exchange. Based on a literature review that informed an EU policy dialogue bringing together policy makers, practitioners and researchers and followed up by a workshop with city administrations, twelve practical action points were co-created on how to better consider social innovation in energy and climate policy making in the EU (and beyond). We thereby hope to stimulate a broader discourse on the dual need for social and technological innovation for reaching climate-neutrality.

Within the "Renewable energy cooperative” case study, we defined the boundaries of the field by relying on the cooperative principles provided by the European federation of renewable energy cooperatives (REScoop) and by the International Co-operative Alliance (ICA) respectively. These principles include i) concern for community, ii) voluntary and open membership, iii) democratic governance of the undertaking, and iv) autonomy and independence. At the organisational level, the cooperative principles can be implemented through a legal cooperative statute. However, what principles are represented in a cooperative statute varies from one country to another. Also, organisations with other statutes can adopt the cooperative principles without having a cooperative status. For France, we thus decided to use as boundary of the field the membership in the intermediary organisation “Energie Partagée” which federates projects respecting their definition of “citizen energy projects”. The charter of this organisation has several principles corresponding to the ICA Alliance principles. The members do not necessarily adopt a cooperative status, but they are committed to respect the charter so we chose to include them in the field as cooperative organisations. In France, the main activity of REC is to raise crowd equity to finance and operate renewable energy power plants (mainly rooftop PV projects). RECs are however not limited to producing renewable energy, many are for instance trying to diversify their activities to include activities related to energy literacy and energy efficiency. Despite the recent emergence of citizen projects during the 2000’s, RECs are already well organised around three key national actors that support and structure their development: Energie Partagée, Centrales Villageoises and Enercoop. Our study includes the analysis of two local SIE-initiatives: Eoliennes en Pays de Vilaine, an association created in 2003 to develop wind turbines in the Bretagne Region and Buxia Energie, a cooperative whose objective is the collective appropriation of electricity production by planning, building and financing local projects in renewable energies and energy savings.

Within the "Renewable energy cooperative” case study, we defined the boundaries of the field by relying on the cooperative principles provided by the European federation of renewable energy cooperatives (REScoop) and by the International Co-operative Alliance (ICA) respectively. These principles include i) concern for community, ii) voluntary and open membership, iii) democratic governance of the undertaking, and iv) autonomy and independence. At the organisational level, the cooperative principles can be implemented through a legal cooperative statute. However, what principles are represented in a cooperative statute varies from one country to another. Also, organisations with other statutes can adopt the cooperative principles without having a cooperative status. For France, we thus decided to use as boundary of the field the membership in the intermediary organisation “Energie Partagée” which federates projects respecting their definition of “citizen energy projects”. The charter of this organisation has several principles corresponding to the ICA Alliance principles. The members do not necessarily adopt a cooperative status, but they are committed to respect the charter so we chose to include them in the field as cooperative organisations. In France, the main activity of REC is to raise crowd equity to finance and operate renewable energy power plants (mainly rooftop PV projects). RECs are however not limited to producing renewable energy, many are for instance trying to diversify their activities to include activities related to energy literacy and energy efficiency. Despite the recent emergence of citizen projects during the 2000’s, RECs are already well organised around three key national actors that support and structure their development: Energie Partagée, Centrales Villageoises and Enercoop. Our study includes the analysis of two local SIE-initiatives: Eoliennes en Pays de Vilaine, an association created in 2003 to develop wind turbines in the Bretagne Region and Buxia Energie, a cooperative whose objective is the collective appropriation of electricity production by planning, building and financing local projects in renewable energies and energy savings.