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Thinking, doing, organising: prefiguring just and sustainable energy systems via collective prosumer ecosystems in Europe
journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-10, 01:57 authored by Julia M Wittmayer, Inês Campos, Flor Avelino, Donal BrownDonal Brown, Borna Doracic, Maria Fraaije, Swantje Gährs, Arthur Hinsch, Silvia Assalini, Timon Becker, Esther Marín-González, Lars Holstenkamp, Robert Bedoic, Neven Duic, Sem Oxenaar, Tomislav PukšecThis article positions collective renewable energy prosumerism as a social movement that engages in energy system transformation. Collective renewable energy prosumer initiatives engage in ‘prefigurative’ work through their discursive framings (ways of thinking), their activities (ways of doing) and their understanding and enactment of social relations (ways of organising). The core of this article is a comparative analysis of the prefigurative work of 13 collective prosumers from 7 European countries (Belgium, Croatia, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, United Kingdom). The article discusses their contributions to energy system transformation, including renewable energy production, different mechanisms for involving citizens, local value creation, and the degree of desired and actual collaboration and networking within broader prosumer ecosystems. We then discuss these contributions against societal discourses and expectations towards prosumerism, such as energy democracy, energy justice, and environmental sustainability and decarbonisation. This reveals three tensions: 1) a focus on decarbonisation but not on broader environmental problems, 2) the involvement of certain people and not of others, and 3) the building of prosumer eco-systems while ignoring incumbency. Future research avenues are formulated to conclude the article.
History
Publication status
- Published
File Version
- Published version
Journal
Energy Research & Social ScienceISSN
2214-6296Publisher
ElsevierExternal DOI
Volume
86Page range
1-13Article number
a102425Department affiliated with
- SPRU - Science Policy Research Unit Publications
Full text available
- Yes
Peer reviewed?
- Yes
Legacy Posted Date
2021-12-07First Open Access (FOA) Date
2021-12-07First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date
2021-12-07Usage metrics
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