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his study highlights the role of social capital in promoting renewable energy cooperatives at the municipal level in the Netherlands. A distinction is made between bonding and bridging social capital:
- Bonding social capital refers to close ties within a specific, tightly knit group, such as families, friends, or local communities. These networks are strongly centered and provide emotional support, trust, and a strong sense of belonging. In geographical terms, bonding social capital is often confined to local communities, with an emphasis on internal connections.
- Bridging social capital encompasses broader connections that span different, often diverse groups. These ties link individuals from one community to others outside their immediate social or geographical circle, fostering the exchange of diverse ideas, resources, and knowledge.
Conclusion
The researchers expected both types of social capital to have a positive influence on the formation of renewable energy cooperatives. However, they found that bonding social capital - in other words, strong local community ties - plays a greater role in the emergence of cooperatives than bridging social capital. Municipalities that aim to promote renewable energy cooperatives should therefore focus on strengthening local community networks, as these internal ties appear to be crucial for collective, community-led initiatives.
Reference
- Stefan Geskus, Matthijs B Punt, Thomas Bauwens, Rense Corten, Koen Frenken, Does social capital foster renewable energy cooperatives?, Journal of Economic Geography, 2024;, lbae031, https://doi.org/10.1093/jeg/lbae031