People's Energy
Energy transition is not just about technology; it's about people. Across the Netherlands, more than 800 local energy communities are stepping up to take control of energy production and decision-making, bringing neighbours together to create sustainable solutions. But how do these communities establish trust and legitimacy in the eyes of governments, partners, and their own members? This is the central question driving the Signature project People’s Energy.
“Energy communities are unique in their ability to combine local expertise with democratic values. They have the potential to make the energy transition more democratic and fair,” explains Nenya Jochemsen, PhD researcher and one of the project’s core members.
Democratic values
People’s Energy identifies an untapped potential of renewable energy communities to democratize the energy transition. The barriers causing this can be explained as a legitimacy issue. The project focuses on addressing the legitimacy challenges these groups face, such as navigating internal tensions and meeting diverse and conflicting stakeholder expectations. By studying how norms could support the legitimacy of energy communities, the project seeks to strengthen their democratic values and position in the energy transition.
“Our goal is not just to define norms for these communities but to understand the tensions they face, in accommodating a diversity of internal and external expectations, such as between inclusivity and efficiency,” says Jochemsen.
Legitimacy gaps
The project’s overarching aim is to identify the legitimacy challenges faced by energy communities and develop practical frameworks to address them. This includes:
- Clarifying what constitutes democratic and legitimate governance in energy communities.
- Bridging "legitimacy gaps": the disconnects between what energy communities can deliver and what stakeholders expect of them; and the tensions between them.
- Exploring ways to integrate these findings into practical tools, supporting the norm-setting process initiated by practitioners.
People’s Energy is as much about understanding the problem as it is about finding solutions. Jochemsen: “We’re digging deep into the context of these communities to uncover what is really at stake, so we can help them navigate these challenges effectively.”
What is an energy community?
Understanding the field
Since starting as an Incubator project and becoming a Signature, the People’s Energy team has made significant strides in understanding the problem landscape. This includes:
- Collaborating with Energy Samen, a key representative of Dutch energy cooperatives, to ground the research in real-world practice.
- Developing theoretical insights into legitimacy-building strategies.
- Preparing a conceptual paper to frame future empirical work.
Collaborations
Partnerships with non-academic partners are important for People’s Energy. EnergieSamen provides critical field insights, while the NEN (Netherlands Standardization Institute) contributes expertise in navigating formal stakeholder negotiations. These collaborations ensure that the project is transdisciplinary; it is both academically and practically applicable.
“Working with partners like EnergieSamen is rewarding,” says Jochemsen. “Their experience allows us to align our research with the real needs of energy communities while ensuring that our findings are actionable.”
Creating standards
The next steps for People’s Energy include hosting workshops with energy communities and their stakeholders to co-develop practical solutions. The team will also delve deeper into the “legitimacy gaps” these communities face, using case studies and interviews to explore how governance frameworks can be tailored to their needs.
“This project is about creating a foundation for the future,” Jochemsen concludes. “By building trust and clarity around energy communities, we can help make them a cornerstone of a fair and sustainable energy transition.”
Team
dr. Sanne Akerboom
Assistant ProfessorGeosciences - Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development - Energy & Resourcesdr. Jesse Hoffman
Assistant ProfessorGeosciences - Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development - Urban FuturesNenya Jochemsen MSc
ResearcherGeosciences - Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development - Environmental Governancedr. Nathan Wood
ResearcherSocial and Behavioural SciencesGeosciences - Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development - Energy & ResourcesSocial and Behavioural Sciences - Social Sciences - Interdisciplinary Social Science
prof. dr. mr. Annelies Huygen
Professor by Special AppointmentLaw, Economics and Governance - Utrecht University School of Law - Institute of Constitutional, Administrative Law and Legal Theory
Non-UU partners
- Siward Zomer (EnergieSamen)
- Ries Verhoeven (EnergieSamen)
- Charlotte Koppen (NEN)