Energy transition
Themes : Bringing economy and ecology together
In the face of the combined threats of peak oil and increasingly perceptible climate changes, citizens are opting for different forms of energy: local, shared, ecological, collective and cooperative. The goal is three-pronged: raise awareness about energy consumption in general and adopt reduced-consumption solutions; put a stop to energy dependence on fossil fuels and nuclear energy, and initiate an energy transition that places consumption as close as possible to the resource.
This development naturally lies within the sphere of the SSE, with citizens forming groups and pooling their resources to finance projects for creating cooperatives based on renewable energies (solar, wind, biomass, etc.) that respect the environment. These solutions combine local roots, innovative solutions, an environmentally-friendly approach, carbon footprint reduction, democratic governance, non-speculative purpose and the social and solidarity economy. They are hugely popular in Germany and Denmark in particular. As Hugues Sybille points out, “the formula offers two major competitive advantages: it can be used to bring into play local savings. In Germany, for example, cooperatives use their own funds for half their financing. The second advantage is that the formula fosters greater acceptability among citizens, for example, of wind turbines. Instead of projects that are imposed rather than being chosen, we develop the projects we wish for and agree to.” Another energy future is emerging.
8 publications | One proposal | 7 case studies | 20 Analyses/working papers/articles | 2 public contributions | An article
8 publications
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Empowering Electricity. Co-operatives, Sustainability, and Power Sector Reform in Canada.
Julie L. MacArthur, University of Bristish Colombia Press, October 2016
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Europe in transition. Local communities leading the way to a low-carbon society.
Eamon O’Hara, June 2013
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June 2010
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Enough is Enough Ideas for a Sustainable Economy in a World of Finite Resources
O’Neill, D.W., R. Dietz, and N. Jones (editors). 2010. The report of the Steady State Economy Conference, Leeds, UK. Center for the Advancement of the Steady State Economy (Arlington, Virginia, USA) and Economic Justice for All (Leeds, UK).
Dan O’Neill, Rob Dietz, Nigel Jones, 2010
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The Social Economy International. Perspectives on Economic Solidarity
Edited by Ash Amin, Zed Books, UK, September 2009
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Eco-innovation - putting the EU on the path to a resource and energy eficient economy
The issue of resource scarcity is back on the agenda. What should EU do about it?
Raimund Bleischwitz, Michael Kuhndt, Friedrich Schmidt-Bleek, Stefan Giljum, March 2009
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The Middelgrunden Offshore Wind Farm. A Popular Initiative.
2003
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The double challenge. Understanding the Challenge: Energy, climate change and development
In support of a ‘Green Energy Revolution’ to simultaneously tackle the right to development and the climate crisis
One proposal
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Thomas H. Greco, August 2016
7 case studies
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Illinois’s Cook County Helps Solar Energy Cooperatives Rise and Shine
Kevin Stark, July 2017
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How Government Support for Social Enterprise Can Reduce Poverty and Green House Gases
Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives Manitoba
Lynne Fernandez, January 2016
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Sustainability 2015, 7(2), 1900-1931
Thomas Hoppe, Antonia Graf, Beau Warbroek, Imke Lammers, Isabella Lepping, 2015
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Social and Economic Benefits of Community Energy Schemes
report produced by Shared Assets and the National Trust
Shared Assets and the National Trust, UK, 2014
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Jennifer C. Rogers, Eunice A Simmons, Ian Convery, Andrew Weatherall, March 2012
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Green Energy and Green Economy Act
Brief Public Policy Profile CCRPèS - CSERP
Sarah Amyot, May 2010
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Power to the People: community‐led wind energy – obstacles and opportunities in a South Wales Valley
Community Development Journal, 36, 96-110.
Emily Hinshelwood, 2001
20 Analyses/working papers/articles
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Energy and Gender: Ecofeminist views on energy
Rapporteurship of the debate - Xarxa per la sobirania energètica. La Fede, April 24th 2017
April 2017
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Cultures of Community Energy International case studies
Neil Simcock, Rebecca Willis, Peter Capener in association with Lancaster Environment Centre – Lancaster University, May 2016
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John Duda, August 2015
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Power To The People: Toward Democratic Control of Electricity Generation
Trade Unions for Energy Democracy Worling Paper n°4
June 2015
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The energy transition to energy democracy. Power to the people.
Final results oriented report of the REScoop 20-20-20 Intelligent Energy Europe project
REScoop, April 2015
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Energy, Sustainability and Society 2014
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Making Space for Economic Democracy: The Danish Wind Power Revolution
Think pieces for the UNRISD conference “Potential and Limits of Social and Solidarity Economy”. 6-8 May 2013
Andrew Cumbers, May 2013
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Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy 30(3) 381 – 400
Gill Seyfang, Alex Haxeltine, 2012
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Social Factors in Wind Energy Development of Denmark in 1980s – 1990s: Society and Technology
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Bringing Social Equity into Low-carbon Investment: why it matters and emerging lessons.
Becky Buell, Ruth Mayne, September 2011
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Degrowth and the supply of money in an energy-scarce world
Ecological Economics xxx (2011) xxx–xxx. Elsevier.
Richard Douthwaite, 2011
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Beyond Copenhagen: Common Ownership, Reparations, Degrowth and Renewable Energy Technology Transfer
Kolya Abramsky, April 2010
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RiCC – research report 2010/4
Anna Schreuer, Daniela Weismeier-Sammer, April 2010
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A Global Green New Deal for Climate, Energy, and Development
A big push strategy to ! ! Drive down the cost of renewable energy ! Ramp up deployment in developing countries ! End energy poverty ! Contribute to economic recovery and growth ! Generate employment in all countries ! and ! Help avoid dangerous climate change
December 2009
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Review of Radical Political Economics. Volume (Year): 41 (2009)
David Barkin, September 2009
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Elsevier Policy and Society 27 (2009) 379–398
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What are the barriers and incentives for community-owned means of energy production and use?
Energy Policy Volume 36, Issue 12, December 2008, Pages 4401–4405, Elsevier.
Gordon Walker, December 2008
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Social Acceptance and Social Innovation in Wind Power Technology
Energy Policy, 35, 2761- 2769.
2007
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Energy Policy, 35, 1992-2008
Madlener Reinhard, 2007
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Danish Experience in Wind Energy - Local Financing
Working report for the WELFI project (Wind Energy Local Financing) coordinated by CLER (Comité de Liaison Energies Renouvelables), France with support from the EU SAVE Program.
Gunnar Boye Olesen, Preben Maegaard, Jane Kruse, December 2002
2 public contributions
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Eat the Sky: The Climate Crisis at the End of Your Fork.
Anna Lappé, October 2008
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Twenty-Sixth Annual E. F. Schumacher Lectures October 2006, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA
Richard Heinberg, October 2006
An article
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It Was a Blighted City Block. But This Woman Is Turning It Into a Solar-Powered Ecovillage
Article of Yes! Magazine, Dec 07, 2016
Zenobia Jeffries, December 2016