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eco logic

Ecologic Institute

An International Think Tank for Environment and Development

Berlin Brussels Washington D.C. San Mateo CA

• ENERGY TRANSITION AND BEHAVIOURAL CHANGE

IN RURAL AREAS

THE ROLE OF ENERGY COOPERATIVES

Timo Kaphengst, Eike Velten Ecologic Institute

13/8/14

ISEE Conference 2014

eco logic

Ecologic Institute

An International Think Tank for Environment and Development

www.ecologic.eu

Thematic background

• Radical change of our economy is needed
• Structural transformations are currently impeded and only occur in

certain niches

• Cities and urban areas are the major origin of social innovation
• Energy transition in Germany and other European countries has

redirected focus of economic development to rural areas

• Challenges of rural areas:
• ageing population, high unemployment rates, social disparities and

the lack of adaptive potential to the global market

• New actors in the energy market?: Energy cooperatives
• Beneficial form of energy generation?
• Rather community-based approach to energy development

13/8/14

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ISEE Conference 2014

eco logic

Ecologic Institute

An International Think Tank for Environment and Development

www.ecologic.eu

The German Energy Transition

13/8/14

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ISEE Conference 2014

eco logic

Ecologic Institute

An International Think Tank for Environment and Development

www.ecologic.eu

Characteristics of energy cooperatives

• 1) democratic  all members of a cooperative have
• ne vote independently of their financial contribution;
• 2) open and flexible  throughout the existence of a

cooperative, additional citizens can get engaged and new projects can be initiated;

• 3) secure  each cooperative is required to join a

cooperative auditing association, which offers support and consultancy but also regular checks to prevent financial losses.

13/8/14

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ISEE Conference 2014

eco logic

Ecologic Institute

An International Think Tank for Environment and Development

www.ecologic.eu

Scope and objectives

• Overall aim: to investigate processes towards

RE in rural areas by paying particular attention to the role of energy cooperatives

• Do energy cooperatives provide favourable

structures for initialising transition processes in rural areas and involving relevant stakeholders?

• Role of frontrunners in development of RE
• Do energy cooperatives evoke changes in

(environmental) behaviour among their members?

13/8/14

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ISEE Conference 2014

eco logic

Ecologic Institute

An International Think Tank for Environment and Development

www.ecologic.eu

The Multi-level Perspective (MLP)

13/8/14

Source: ¡ adapted ¡from ¡ Geels ¡(2011) ¡

Assump&on: ¡energy ¡coopera=ves ¡as ¡a ¡part ¡of ¡niche ¡ac=vi=es ¡towards ¡ the ¡implementa=on ¡of ¡renewable ¡energies ¡challenging ¡the ¡mostly ¡ fossil-­‑based ¡energy ¡regime ¡at ¡regional ¡and ¡na=onal ¡level ¡ ¡ 6 ¡

ISEE Conference 2014

eco logic

Ecologic Institute

An International Think Tank for Environment and Development

www.ecologic.eu

Transition Management

• TM stipulates a normative

decision and a prescriptive governance approach

• Aim: to mobilise, guide, and

accelerate social innovation

• Builds upon governance

and complex system theory, practical experiences and experiments

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Source: ¡Loorbach ¡(2007) ¡ 7 ¡

ISEE Conference 2014

eco logic

Ecologic Institute

An International Think Tank for Environment and Development

www.ecologic.eu

Practice Theory

• Challenges the assumption

that rational individuals take conscious consumption decisions based on their attitudes and values

• Practices as the central unit
• f analysis
• Example: people do not

desire a car, but strive to go to work in a convenient, safe and private way

13/8/14

Source: ¡Shove ¡et ¡al., ¡2012 ¡ 8 ¡

ISEE Conference 2014

eco logic

Ecologic Institute

An International Think Tank for Environment and Development

www.ecologic.eu

Methodological approach

• Case study in Northern Bavaria
• Two site visits at the district of Rhön-Grabfeld,

interviews with key actors

• Participatory Network Analysis
• Online questionnaire sent to the members of

cooperatives

• Additional information from two other case studies

based on a literature review

• Island of Samsø, Denmark
• Som Energia project in Spain

13/8/14

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ISEE Conference 2014

eco logic

Ecologic Institute

An International Think Tank for Environment and Development

www.ecologic.eu

RE development in Rhön-Grabfeld

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ISEE Conference 2014

eco logic

Ecologic Institute

An International Think Tank for Environment and Development

www.ecologic.eu

Network of actors

13/8/14

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ISEE Conference 2014

eco logic

Ecologic Institute

An International Think Tank for Environment and Development

www.ecologic.eu

Key findings of Bavarian case study

Beneficial factors for promoting RE in rural areas:

• Legal framework favouring renewable energies over fossil

energies, enabling a secure investment environment

• Funding to support initial activities that do not yet generate

income

• Frontrunners deeply rooted in the region and of high reputation

among population

• Established networks of actors and stakeholders
• General attitude and willingness towards change among at least

some parts of the population

• A simple, convincing and highly inclusive concept
• Spaces and capacities for open dialogues

13/8/14

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ISEE Conference 2014

eco logic

Ecologic Institute

An International Think Tank for Environment and Development

www.ecologic.eu

Behavioural change in rural energy transition

13/8/14

female 16% male 84% n=109 1% 1% 2% 4% 4% 5% 6% 7% 10% 15% 46% Unemployed Student No answer Housewife/Househusband Farmer Managerial Position Self-employed Public Servant Worker (Blue-Collar) Retired Employee (White Collar) n = 110

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ISEE Conference 2014

eco logic

Ecologic Institute

An International Think Tank for Environment and Development

www.ecologic.eu

Position of respondents and money invested

13/8/14

(Rather) passive member 59% (Rather) active Member 15% Supervisory board 14% Chair 8% Other 4% no answer 1% n=110 7% 14% 54% 22% 1% 3% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% ≤100 Euro ≤1.000 Euro ≤10.000 Euro ≤100.000 Euro >100.000 Euro no answer n=110

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ISEE Conference 2014

eco logic

Ecologic Institute

An International Think Tank for Environment and Development

www.ecologic.eu

Motivation for joining energy cooperative

13/8/14

89% 62% 62% 37% 15% 7% 25% 29% 53% 11% 1% 8% 6% 8% 26% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% Environmental protection / sustainable energy supply Support the Community Interest in community projects Lucrative Investment Others Amount of Respondents Important Less Important Not important n=110; the remaining percentage to 100% is due to respondents giving no answer

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ISEE Conference 2014

eco logic

Ecologic Institute

An International Think Tank for Environment and Development

www.ecologic.eu

Fields of behavioural change

13/8/14

34% 29% 18% 17% 12% 5% 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% Energy consumption Financial Investment Political Commitment Volunteering Mobility Diet n=106

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ISEE Conference 2014

eco logic

Ecologic Institute

An International Think Tank for Environment and Development

www.ecologic.eu

Energy cooperatives and behavioural change

• Commitment and participation had an effect on the awareness and

behaviour of the people involved in energy cooperatives

• Mainly altruistic motives rather than profit-driven motivations to become

a member of an energy cooperative.

• There is a notable male dominance in energy transition in rural areas.
• For every field of behaviour at least two thirds of the respondents did

not perceive an effect on behaviour

• The most relevant behavioural change occurred in energy consumption

and financial investments (“proximity” argument).

• Some caveats:
• Perception bias?: Man and older people tend to notice more behavioural

changes

• Behavioural changes might be influenced by other factors or other people
• PT: Energy cooperatives provide
• Competences (social learning, skill enhancement)
• Meaning (shared values and visions)
• Materials (not so clear…)

13/8/14

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ISEE Conference 2014

eco logic

Ecologic Institute

An International Think Tank for Environment and Development

www.ecologic.eu

Conclusions

• Energy cooperatives
• Attractive and inclusive vehicle for dynamics towards

transition

• Should gain additional attention in future research on

transition at regional scale

• Should be promoted by governments
• More research is needed how such networks evolve and

which role frontrunners have in this process

• Rapidly changing energy markets create new
• pportunities for cooperation between producers and

consumers, governments and stakeholders, civil society etc.

• Results and findings of behavioural changes need more

consolidation

13/8/14

18 ¡

ISEE Conference 2014

eco logic

Ecologic Institute

An International Think Tank for Environment and Development

www.ecologic.eu

Towards an “enabling policy”?

• Which policy measures can directly support

bottom-up initiatives?

• Diminish unnecessary administrative hurdles
• Provide flexible and less result-based funding
• pportunities; also enable “process funding”
• Provide space/forums for exchanging ideas and

knowledge between citizens and stakeholders at local level.

• Value outcomes of forums in decision-making and

strengthen the interplay between policy levels (local, regional, national and EU)

13/8/14

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ISEE Conference 2014

eco logic

Ecologic Institute

An International Think Tank for Environment and Development

www.ecologic.eu

13/8/14

THANK YOU!

hKp://www.foreurope.eu/ ¡ =mo.kaphengst@ecologic.eu ¡ 20 ¡

ISEE Conference 2014