Policy challenges to community energy in the EU: A systematic review of the scientific literature

Research output: Contribution to journalReviewpeer-review

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Policy challenges to community energy in the EU : A systematic review of the scientific literature. / Busch, Henner; Ruggiero, Salvatore; Isakovic, Aljosa; Hansen, Teis.

In: Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews, Vol. 151, 111535, 2021.

Research output: Contribution to journalReviewpeer-review

Harvard

Busch, H, Ruggiero, S, Isakovic, A & Hansen, T 2021, 'Policy challenges to community energy in the EU: A systematic review of the scientific literature', Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews, vol. 151, 111535. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2021.111535

APA

Busch, H., Ruggiero, S., Isakovic, A., & Hansen, T. (2021). Policy challenges to community energy in the EU: A systematic review of the scientific literature. Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews, 151, [111535]. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2021.111535

Vancouver

Busch H, Ruggiero S, Isakovic A, Hansen T. Policy challenges to community energy in the EU: A systematic review of the scientific literature. Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews. 2021;151. 111535. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2021.111535

Author

Busch, Henner ; Ruggiero, Salvatore ; Isakovic, Aljosa ; Hansen, Teis. / Policy challenges to community energy in the EU : A systematic review of the scientific literature. In: Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews. 2021 ; Vol. 151.

Bibtex

@article{ace3f6b8fa4d4b0da1397b1d479a27d9,
title = "Policy challenges to community energy in the EU: A systematic review of the scientific literature",
abstract = "In response to the ongoing climate crisis, many countries have issued policies to support the uptake of renewable energy. In the same vein, the European Union (EU) has issued a revised renewable energy directive in 2018. One of the pillars of the directive is the support for community energy initiatives, i.e. sustainable energy initiatives run by or with the participation of citizens. The concept of community energy (CE) has been linked to a number of advantages, such as strengthening local democratic processes or economic development for marginalised communities. The aim of this review article is to find out how past policies helped to overcome or aggravated transition challenges towards a higher share of community energy in the EU. To answer this question, we reviewed the scientific literature on community energy from the last decade. We analysed this body through a theoretical lens that highlights four main transition challenges. These occur in relation to 1) directionality, 2) demand articulation, 3) experimentation, 4) policy learning & coordination. Our results show that visions and goals are important policy tools for providing directionality in the energy transition. Feed-in-tariffs (FiT) surface as the most important policy to support community energy projects and spark demand. We found very little indication for a link between community energy and explicit experimentation. Nevertheless, learning does take place amongst peers. Our review underlined the important role intermediaries play in facilitating policy learning and coordination. We conclude by presenting a number of concrete policy recommendations such as strengthening intermediary organisations and providing administrative support to community energy initiatives in case of changes in the policy framework.",
keywords = "Community energy, Transition challenges, Renewable energy, Energy policy, Directionality, GRASS-ROOTS INNOVATIONS, RENEWABLE ENERGY, WIND ENERGY, DISTRIBUTED GENERATION, TRANSFORMATIVE CHANGE, SOCIAL ACCEPTANCE, INITIATIVES, PROJECTS, GERMANY, JUSTICE",
author = "Henner Busch and Salvatore Ruggiero and Aljosa Isakovic and Teis Hansen",
year = "2021",
doi = "10.1016/j.rser.2021.111535",
language = "English",
volume = "151",
journal = "Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews",
issn = "1364-0321",
publisher = "Pergamon Press",

}

RIS

TY - JOUR

T1 - Policy challenges to community energy in the EU

T2 - A systematic review of the scientific literature

AU - Busch, Henner

AU - Ruggiero, Salvatore

AU - Isakovic, Aljosa

AU - Hansen, Teis

PY - 2021

Y1 - 2021

N2 - In response to the ongoing climate crisis, many countries have issued policies to support the uptake of renewable energy. In the same vein, the European Union (EU) has issued a revised renewable energy directive in 2018. One of the pillars of the directive is the support for community energy initiatives, i.e. sustainable energy initiatives run by or with the participation of citizens. The concept of community energy (CE) has been linked to a number of advantages, such as strengthening local democratic processes or economic development for marginalised communities. The aim of this review article is to find out how past policies helped to overcome or aggravated transition challenges towards a higher share of community energy in the EU. To answer this question, we reviewed the scientific literature on community energy from the last decade. We analysed this body through a theoretical lens that highlights four main transition challenges. These occur in relation to 1) directionality, 2) demand articulation, 3) experimentation, 4) policy learning & coordination. Our results show that visions and goals are important policy tools for providing directionality in the energy transition. Feed-in-tariffs (FiT) surface as the most important policy to support community energy projects and spark demand. We found very little indication for a link between community energy and explicit experimentation. Nevertheless, learning does take place amongst peers. Our review underlined the important role intermediaries play in facilitating policy learning and coordination. We conclude by presenting a number of concrete policy recommendations such as strengthening intermediary organisations and providing administrative support to community energy initiatives in case of changes in the policy framework.

AB - In response to the ongoing climate crisis, many countries have issued policies to support the uptake of renewable energy. In the same vein, the European Union (EU) has issued a revised renewable energy directive in 2018. One of the pillars of the directive is the support for community energy initiatives, i.e. sustainable energy initiatives run by or with the participation of citizens. The concept of community energy (CE) has been linked to a number of advantages, such as strengthening local democratic processes or economic development for marginalised communities. The aim of this review article is to find out how past policies helped to overcome or aggravated transition challenges towards a higher share of community energy in the EU. To answer this question, we reviewed the scientific literature on community energy from the last decade. We analysed this body through a theoretical lens that highlights four main transition challenges. These occur in relation to 1) directionality, 2) demand articulation, 3) experimentation, 4) policy learning & coordination. Our results show that visions and goals are important policy tools for providing directionality in the energy transition. Feed-in-tariffs (FiT) surface as the most important policy to support community energy projects and spark demand. We found very little indication for a link between community energy and explicit experimentation. Nevertheless, learning does take place amongst peers. Our review underlined the important role intermediaries play in facilitating policy learning and coordination. We conclude by presenting a number of concrete policy recommendations such as strengthening intermediary organisations and providing administrative support to community energy initiatives in case of changes in the policy framework.

KW - Community energy

KW - Transition challenges

KW - Renewable energy

KW - Energy policy

KW - Directionality

KW - GRASS-ROOTS INNOVATIONS

KW - RENEWABLE ENERGY

KW - WIND ENERGY

KW - DISTRIBUTED GENERATION

KW - TRANSFORMATIVE CHANGE

KW - SOCIAL ACCEPTANCE

KW - INITIATIVES

KW - PROJECTS

KW - GERMANY

KW - JUSTICE

U2 - 10.1016/j.rser.2021.111535

DO - 10.1016/j.rser.2021.111535

M3 - Review

VL - 151

JO - Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews

JF - Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews

SN - 1364-0321

M1 - 111535

ER -

ID: 283132537