Diagnosis of the Development of Energy Cooperatives in Poland—A Case Study of a Renewable Energy Cooperative in the Upper Silesian Region
Renewable energy sources (RESs) offer key transformative potential from a societal point of view due to their modularity and ability to generate energy at the local level, allowing for the development of grassroots democratic and participatory initiatives. The paper aims to share insights into the p...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Energies |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/17/3/647 |
| _version_ | 1797318794891231232 |
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| author | Bożena Gajdzik Magdalena Jaciow Radosław Wolniak Robert Wolny Wieslaw Wes Grebski |
| author_facet | Bożena Gajdzik Magdalena Jaciow Radosław Wolniak Robert Wolny Wieslaw Wes Grebski |
| author_sort | Bożena Gajdzik |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Renewable energy sources (RESs) offer key transformative potential from a societal point of view due to their modularity and ability to generate energy at the local level, allowing for the development of grassroots democratic and participatory initiatives. The paper aims to share insights into the processes of creating RES cooperatives in Poland. One of the first cooperatives to be established in the Upper Silesian region in Poland was the energy cooperative (EC) “Our Energy”. This study presents an in-depth empirical analysis of a community-based renewable energy cooperative. The study employed a case study methodology, including a SWOT analysis framework, to describe the research subject and identify its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Key findings indicate that members benefit from stable energy prices and full recovery of the energy produced, and the cooperative is at the forefront of energy-sharing practices that minimize costs through direct transactions with the local municipality. The strategic goals of the EC focus on expanding membership, increasing the number of photovoltaic installations, implementing energy balancing, combating energy poverty, and reducing emissions. Challenges such as financial constraints and a lack of real-time monitoring of energy distribution are acknowledged, and carbon footprint reduction innovations and stakeholder engagement are highlighted as forward-looking approaches. The study highlights the role of cooperatives as a model for community-led sustainable energy initiatives. However, the study acknowledges the limitations of its small sample size, suggesting the need for broader research to understand the impact of collaborative energy on decarbonization. Future research directions are proposed, focusing on the long-term sustainability and socioeconomic impacts of energy cooperatives. This study contributes to the scholarly discourse on renewable energy cooperatives by offering insight into their potential to bridge the gap between energy producers and consumers and support sustainable community development. The main novelty of this paper lies in its detailed examination of a specific renewable energy cooperative, incorporating SWOT analysis, stakeholder perspectives, quantitative assessments, and a forward-thinking approach. This multifaceted analysis contributes to the existing literature on renewable energy initiatives, providing a valuable reference for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners in the field. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T03:57:37Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-53487d82e4824b3496499ab4566799fb |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T03:57:37Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj.art-53487d82e4824b3496499ab4566799fb2024-02-09T15:11:25ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732024-01-0117364710.3390/en17030647Diagnosis of the Development of Energy Cooperatives in Poland—A Case Study of a Renewable Energy Cooperative in the Upper Silesian RegionBożena Gajdzik0Magdalena Jaciow1Radosław Wolniak2Robert Wolny3Wieslaw Wes Grebski4Department of Industrial Informatics, Silesian University of Technology, 40-019 Katowice, PolandDepartment of Digital Economy Research, Faculty of Economics, University of Economics in Katowice, 40-287 Katowice, PolandFaculty of Organization and Management, Silesian University of Technology, 44-100 Gliwice, PolandDepartment of Digital Economy Research, Faculty of Economics, University of Economics in Katowice, 40-287 Katowice, PolandPenn State Hazleton, Pennsylvania State University, 76 University Drive, Hazleton, PA 18202, USARenewable energy sources (RESs) offer key transformative potential from a societal point of view due to their modularity and ability to generate energy at the local level, allowing for the development of grassroots democratic and participatory initiatives. The paper aims to share insights into the processes of creating RES cooperatives in Poland. One of the first cooperatives to be established in the Upper Silesian region in Poland was the energy cooperative (EC) “Our Energy”. This study presents an in-depth empirical analysis of a community-based renewable energy cooperative. The study employed a case study methodology, including a SWOT analysis framework, to describe the research subject and identify its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Key findings indicate that members benefit from stable energy prices and full recovery of the energy produced, and the cooperative is at the forefront of energy-sharing practices that minimize costs through direct transactions with the local municipality. The strategic goals of the EC focus on expanding membership, increasing the number of photovoltaic installations, implementing energy balancing, combating energy poverty, and reducing emissions. Challenges such as financial constraints and a lack of real-time monitoring of energy distribution are acknowledged, and carbon footprint reduction innovations and stakeholder engagement are highlighted as forward-looking approaches. The study highlights the role of cooperatives as a model for community-led sustainable energy initiatives. However, the study acknowledges the limitations of its small sample size, suggesting the need for broader research to understand the impact of collaborative energy on decarbonization. Future research directions are proposed, focusing on the long-term sustainability and socioeconomic impacts of energy cooperatives. This study contributes to the scholarly discourse on renewable energy cooperatives by offering insight into their potential to bridge the gap between energy producers and consumers and support sustainable community development. The main novelty of this paper lies in its detailed examination of a specific renewable energy cooperative, incorporating SWOT analysis, stakeholder perspectives, quantitative assessments, and a forward-thinking approach. This multifaceted analysis contributes to the existing literature on renewable energy initiatives, providing a valuable reference for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners in the field.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/17/3/647energy cooperativesrenewable energy sources (RESs)decarbonizationsustainabilitylocal development |
| spellingShingle | Bożena Gajdzik Magdalena Jaciow Radosław Wolniak Robert Wolny Wieslaw Wes Grebski Diagnosis of the Development of Energy Cooperatives in Poland—A Case Study of a Renewable Energy Cooperative in the Upper Silesian Region Energies energy cooperatives renewable energy sources (RESs) decarbonization sustainability local development |
| title | Diagnosis of the Development of Energy Cooperatives in Poland—A Case Study of a Renewable Energy Cooperative in the Upper Silesian Region |
| title_full | Diagnosis of the Development of Energy Cooperatives in Poland—A Case Study of a Renewable Energy Cooperative in the Upper Silesian Region |
| title_fullStr | Diagnosis of the Development of Energy Cooperatives in Poland—A Case Study of a Renewable Energy Cooperative in the Upper Silesian Region |
| title_full_unstemmed | Diagnosis of the Development of Energy Cooperatives in Poland—A Case Study of a Renewable Energy Cooperative in the Upper Silesian Region |
| title_short | Diagnosis of the Development of Energy Cooperatives in Poland—A Case Study of a Renewable Energy Cooperative in the Upper Silesian Region |
| title_sort | diagnosis of the development of energy cooperatives in poland a case study of a renewable energy cooperative in the upper silesian region |
| topic | energy cooperatives renewable energy sources (RESs) decarbonization sustainability local development |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/17/3/647 |
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