A Characterization of European Collective Action Initiatives and Their Role as Enablers of Citizens’ Participation in the Energy Transition
This paper provides novel additional evidence on the characteristics of Collective Action Initiatives (CAIs), investigating their role within the European energy sector. It analyses and presents results of a survey administered in six European countries: the Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, Poland, Esto...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-12-01
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| Series: | Energies |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/24/8452 |
| _version_ | 1797505076717158400 |
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| author | Veronica Lupi Chiara Candelise Merce Almuni Calull Sarah Delvaux Pieter Valkering Wit Hubert Alessandro Sciullo Nele Ivask Esther van der Waal Izaskun Jimenez Iturriza Daniele Paci Nives Della Valle Giorgos Koukoufikis Tessa Dunlop |
| author_facet | Veronica Lupi Chiara Candelise Merce Almuni Calull Sarah Delvaux Pieter Valkering Wit Hubert Alessandro Sciullo Nele Ivask Esther van der Waal Izaskun Jimenez Iturriza Daniele Paci Nives Della Valle Giorgos Koukoufikis Tessa Dunlop |
| author_sort | Veronica Lupi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This paper provides novel additional evidence on the characteristics of Collective Action Initiatives (CAIs), investigating their role within the European energy sector. It analyses and presents results of a survey administered in six European countries: the Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, Poland, Estonia, and Spain. CAIs are studied in light of four key dimensions, those being their creation dynamics, the way they are organized, financed, and the activities they undertake. The results presented are also interpreted to reflect on their role as drivers of social innovation (SI) within energy transition in Europe. The analysis shows that the contribution of CAIs to the energy transition has a much wider scope than the development of energy projects and provision of energy services. CAIs are intrinsically socially innovative models of implementation as characterised by a strong level of citizen involvement and participation. Moreover, they have a potential multi-level role in the energy transition, from the technological and social perspectives. Indeed, alongside traditional energy activities, our results show that CAIs are evolving and expanding towards socially innovative activities, raising awareness on environmental issues, promoting citizens’ mobilization, and fostering social inclusion. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T04:13:26Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-cc39352e94094f34a669c69657d9cd06 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T04:13:26Z |
| publishDate | 2021-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj.art-cc39352e94094f34a669c69657d9cd062023-11-23T08:07:30ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732021-12-011424845210.3390/en14248452A Characterization of European Collective Action Initiatives and Their Role as Enablers of Citizens’ Participation in the Energy TransitionVeronica Lupi0Chiara Candelise1Merce Almuni Calull2Sarah Delvaux3Pieter Valkering4Wit Hubert5Alessandro Sciullo6Nele Ivask7Esther van der Waal8Izaskun Jimenez Iturriza9Daniele Paci10Nives Della Valle11Giorgos Koukoufikis12Tessa Dunlop13GREEN Research Centre, Bocconi University, Via Röntgen 1, 20136 Milan, ItalyGREEN Research Centre, Bocconi University, Via Röntgen 1, 20136 Milan, ItalyVITO, Boeretang 200, 2400 Mol, BelgiumVITO, Boeretang 200, 2400 Mol, BelgiumVITO, Boeretang 200, 2400 Mol, BelgiumInstitute of Sociology, Jagiellonian University, 30-962 Krakow, PolandDepartment of Culture, Politics and Society, University of Turin, Lungo Dora Siena 100, 10124 Torino, ItalyTartu Regional Energy Agency (TREA), 51009 Tartu, EstoniaIntegrated Research on Energy, Environment and Society, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Groningen, 9747 AG Groningen, The NetherlandsTECNALIA, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Mikeletegi Pasealekua 2, 20009 Donostia-San Sebastián, SpainEuropean Commission, Joint Research Centre (J.R.C.), 21027 Ispra, ItalyEuropean Commission, Joint Research Centre (J.R.C.), 21027 Ispra, ItalyEuropean Commission, Joint Research Centre (J.R.C.), 1755 LE Petten, The NetherlandsEuropean Commission, Joint Research Centre (J.R.C.), 21027 Ispra, ItalyThis paper provides novel additional evidence on the characteristics of Collective Action Initiatives (CAIs), investigating their role within the European energy sector. It analyses and presents results of a survey administered in six European countries: the Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, Poland, Estonia, and Spain. CAIs are studied in light of four key dimensions, those being their creation dynamics, the way they are organized, financed, and the activities they undertake. The results presented are also interpreted to reflect on their role as drivers of social innovation (SI) within energy transition in Europe. The analysis shows that the contribution of CAIs to the energy transition has a much wider scope than the development of energy projects and provision of energy services. CAIs are intrinsically socially innovative models of implementation as characterised by a strong level of citizen involvement and participation. Moreover, they have a potential multi-level role in the energy transition, from the technological and social perspectives. Indeed, alongside traditional energy activities, our results show that CAIs are evolving and expanding towards socially innovative activities, raising awareness on environmental issues, promoting citizens’ mobilization, and fostering social inclusion.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/24/8452energy communitiescommunity energyenergy transitiongreen energycitizen participationsocial innovation |
| spellingShingle | Veronica Lupi Chiara Candelise Merce Almuni Calull Sarah Delvaux Pieter Valkering Wit Hubert Alessandro Sciullo Nele Ivask Esther van der Waal Izaskun Jimenez Iturriza Daniele Paci Nives Della Valle Giorgos Koukoufikis Tessa Dunlop A Characterization of European Collective Action Initiatives and Their Role as Enablers of Citizens’ Participation in the Energy Transition Energies energy communities community energy energy transition green energy citizen participation social innovation |
| title | A Characterization of European Collective Action Initiatives and Their Role as Enablers of Citizens’ Participation in the Energy Transition |
| title_full | A Characterization of European Collective Action Initiatives and Their Role as Enablers of Citizens’ Participation in the Energy Transition |
| title_fullStr | A Characterization of European Collective Action Initiatives and Their Role as Enablers of Citizens’ Participation in the Energy Transition |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Characterization of European Collective Action Initiatives and Their Role as Enablers of Citizens’ Participation in the Energy Transition |
| title_short | A Characterization of European Collective Action Initiatives and Their Role as Enablers of Citizens’ Participation in the Energy Transition |
| title_sort | characterization of european collective action initiatives and their role as enablers of citizens participation in the energy transition |
| topic | energy communities community energy energy transition green energy citizen participation social innovation |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/24/8452 |
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