In the article 'Diverse scaling strategies of energy communities: A comparative case study analysis of varied governance contexts' the key characteristics of the development of three energy communities in Belgium, Portugal, and the Netherlands are examined.
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Courant d’Air (Belgium) started in 2009 in Waimes as a local energy cooperative, strongly rooted in collaboration with local actors such as Mobilae and the environmental movement Patrimoine Nature. By connecting the local community, businesses, and government, Courant d’Air grew rapidly and embraced a cooperative model. Their strategy was based on leveraging institutional logics such as market forces, citizen participation, and environmental awareness. Crucial to their success was support from local authorities, which provided tax benefits and assisted the cooperative with renewable energy projects. This partnership ensured strong local legitimacy, enabling the community to further scale up and expand its projects.
Coopernico (Portugal), founded in 2013, focused from the outset on self-sufficiency and financing without government support. They grew by connecting local communities to solar energy, leasing rooftops from social institutions for solar panels. In 2019, Coopernico became an electricity supplier, significantly increasing its scalability. With a national structure and local groups, they collaborated with citizens and small businesses to develop projects. Although they did not rely on external subsidies, they succeeded in creating their own marketplace. Their strategy emphasized independence and innovation within a neoliberal energy market dominated by large corporations.
Zuiderlicht (the Netherlands), founded in 2015, grew by connecting large rooftops with citizens who wanted to invest in solar panels. They built their development on collaboration with established actors such as Alliander (the grid operator) and the Municipality of Amsterdam, which proved crucial to their growth. Through knowledge-sharing with other energy cooperatives and cooperation with public authorities, they became a prominent player. The combination of local projects, national subsidies (SDE+), and the involvement of established actors such as Greenchoice (energy supplier) enabled them to successfully expand both their project portfolio and membership base in Amsterdam.
The study presents five key insights into the scaling processes of energy cooperatives and emphasizes that these processes are strongly shaped by context:
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In their development, energy cooperatives often need to balance efficient decarbonization and decentralization of energy systems on the one hand, and citizen participation and the democratization of energy ownership on the other.
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Different contexts influence which actors become involved in scaling up community initiatives.
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Networks play a crucial role in the scaling process of energy communities, including:
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Diversification of services is emerging as an important new aspect of scaling, alongside growth in membership and technical capacity.
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The role of the state is essential in fostering scaling processes, although EU policy objectives remain difficult to realize in practice.