Intermediaries as Innovating Actors in the Transition to a Sustainable Energy System
In transitions of large sociotechnical systems, intermediary organisations can emerge as mediators in between several actor groups and facilitate communication and collaboration towards common goals. They can support the establishment of new actor networks and the articulation and alignment of inter...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Sciendo
2010-07-01
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| Series: | Central European Journal of Public Policy |
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| Online Access: | http://www.cejpp.eu/index.php/ojs/article/view/47 |
| _version_ | 1828311563032854528 |
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| author | Julia Backhaus |
| author_facet | Julia Backhaus |
| author_sort | Julia Backhaus |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In transitions of large sociotechnical systems, intermediary organisations can emerge as mediators in between several actor groups and facilitate communication and collaboration towards common goals. They can support the establishment of new actor networks and the articulation and alignment of interests to bring about desired changes. In this article, current efforts towards a more sustainable energy system serve as an exemplary context of intermediary work. The field under scrutiny, demand side management, aims to decrease energy consumption. Unfortunately, the role and work of intermediaries as implementers of demand side management projects often remains underappreciated. <br />Research into the reasons of successes and failures of intermediary work and a theoretical corroboration for their practical work can help intermediaries to improve their programme designs and implementation strategies. The EC FP7-funded Changing Behaviour project aims to support intermediaries with strategic activities to improve demand side management programmes and bring about lasting behavioural changes. Paying more attention to context, stakeholders, monitoring, evaluation and learning enables the development of tailor-made, widely supported projects with higher chances of success. <br />In addition to practical support for their work, intermediaries can benefit from stronger policy support. Understanding and appreciation of their work as contribution to policy implementation, e.g. towards energy saving targets, could motivate such support. A stable policy and financial environment with long-term implementation plans and funding schemes provides a fertile ground for intermediary activities. Active participation of policy actors in demand side management programmes can create networks sustaining longer-lasting change. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T16:01:08Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d28d72645e784728b6c2788a749212bb |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1802-4866 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T16:01:08Z |
| publishDate | 2010-07-01 |
| publisher | Sciendo |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Central European Journal of Public Policy |
| spelling | doaj.art-d28d72645e784728b6c2788a749212bb2022-12-22T02:40:32ZengSciendoCentral European Journal of Public Policy1802-48662010-07-014186108Intermediaries as Innovating Actors in the Transition to a Sustainable Energy SystemJulia BackhausIn transitions of large sociotechnical systems, intermediary organisations can emerge as mediators in between several actor groups and facilitate communication and collaboration towards common goals. They can support the establishment of new actor networks and the articulation and alignment of interests to bring about desired changes. In this article, current efforts towards a more sustainable energy system serve as an exemplary context of intermediary work. The field under scrutiny, demand side management, aims to decrease energy consumption. Unfortunately, the role and work of intermediaries as implementers of demand side management projects often remains underappreciated. <br />Research into the reasons of successes and failures of intermediary work and a theoretical corroboration for their practical work can help intermediaries to improve their programme designs and implementation strategies. The EC FP7-funded Changing Behaviour project aims to support intermediaries with strategic activities to improve demand side management programmes and bring about lasting behavioural changes. Paying more attention to context, stakeholders, monitoring, evaluation and learning enables the development of tailor-made, widely supported projects with higher chances of success. <br />In addition to practical support for their work, intermediaries can benefit from stronger policy support. Understanding and appreciation of their work as contribution to policy implementation, e.g. towards energy saving targets, could motivate such support. A stable policy and financial environment with long-term implementation plans and funding schemes provides a fertile ground for intermediary activities. Active participation of policy actors in demand side management programmes can create networks sustaining longer-lasting change.http://www.cejpp.eu/index.php/ojs/article/view/47energy intermediaries, sociotechnical systems, system innovation, transition management, energy efficiency, demand side management. |
| spellingShingle | Julia Backhaus Intermediaries as Innovating Actors in the Transition to a Sustainable Energy System Central European Journal of Public Policy energy intermediaries, sociotechnical systems, system innovation, transition management, energy efficiency, demand side management. |
| title | Intermediaries as Innovating Actors in the Transition to a Sustainable Energy System |
| title_full | Intermediaries as Innovating Actors in the Transition to a Sustainable Energy System |
| title_fullStr | Intermediaries as Innovating Actors in the Transition to a Sustainable Energy System |
| title_full_unstemmed | Intermediaries as Innovating Actors in the Transition to a Sustainable Energy System |
| title_short | Intermediaries as Innovating Actors in the Transition to a Sustainable Energy System |
| title_sort | intermediaries as innovating actors in the transition to a sustainable energy system |
| topic | energy intermediaries, sociotechnical systems, system innovation, transition management, energy efficiency, demand side management. |
| url | http://www.cejpp.eu/index.php/ojs/article/view/47 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT juliabackhaus intermediariesasinnovatingactorsinthetransitiontoasustainableenergysystem |