Multiplying Mighty Davids?

The Influence of Energy Cooperatives on Germany's Energy Transition

verfasst von: Sarah Debor

Verlag: Springer International Publishing

Buchreihe : Contributions to Economics

Enthalten in: Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik" , Springer Professional "Technik" , Springer Professional "Wirtschaft"

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Über dieses Buch

This book systematically describes and evaluates the impact of energy cooperatives as a key driving force in the German energy transition toward a sustainability-oriented energy sector. Based on a comprehensive survey and three case studies, it provides an instructive overview of the overall dimensions and scope of energy cooperatives in Germany, and of their history, structure and current investment projects. The book not only contributes to the energy policy discourse in Germany, but also highlights the role of energy cooperatives to enable an international readership to explore their potential in other countries. Further, it makes a theoretical contribution toward substantially supplementing actor research in general, and enterprise research in particular, in the field of sustainability transitions science.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Frontmatter

Chapter 1. Introduction

Abstract

Development of renewable energy systems stands as one of the great challenges of this century. Contemporary energy systems act as a central driver of anthropogenic climate change. In fact, two thirds—about 35%—of all greenhouse gases (CO₂, CH₄, N₂O, H-FKW/HFC, FKW/PFC, SF₆) are emitted by the global energy-supply sector (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change 2014, p. 516; International Energy Agency 2015b, p. 20). The main reason for this is intensive consumption of greenhouse gas-generating fossil energy resources, primarily oil, coal and natural gas.

Sarah Debor

Chapter 2. Energy Cooperatives: A ‘New’ Phenomenon in Germany

Abstract

The cooperative represents a legal business form that exists in many different countries and can be found in many different sectors. As of 2014, about one billion individuals were active in cooperatives all over the world (The International Co-operative Alliance 2014), and more than 5600 cooperatives were operating in Germany as of 2015, bringing together about 19.4 million members (German Cooperative and Raiffeisen Confederation – reg. Assoc. 2015). These figures demonstrate that cooperatives present a relevant business group in Germany and worldwide.

Sarah Debor

Chapter 3. Germany’s Energiewende

Abstract

The impacts of Germany’s energy cooperatives today can only be observed against the background of a detailed understanding of the country’s energy system, current dynamics, desired energy system goals and aligned challenges. Hence, this section provides an overview of Germany’s ongoing energy transition. Section 3.1 outlines the historical context, 3.2 describes Germany’s energy system goals, and 3.3 discusses the difference between decentralised and centralised system approaches. Meanwhile, Sect. 3.4 identifies system challenges.

Sarah Debor

Chapter 4. Organisations in the Context of Socio-technical Transitions

Abstract

The central aim of this section is to develop a theoretical framework for analysing the impact of organisations within a far reaching system change. The work shall be embedded in the context of sustainability transitions research and will contribute to actor research in general and enterprise research in special in this emerging research field.

Sarah Debor

Chapter 5. Research Design and Methods

Abstract

In this chapter, I outline the research design and empirical methods applied for the work being presented here. The research design refers to how the research topic was empirically approached, whereas the methods are the procedures used for collecting and analysing my empirical data (Creswell and Plano Clark 2011, p. 53). The core research question that needs to be addressed is the following: How can we assess—in a systematic and holistic sense—the influence of energy cooperatives on Germany’s energy transition?

Sarah Debor

Chapter 6. German Energy Cooperatives: A Rising Cosmopolitan Enterprise Community

Abstract

Throughout this section, German energy cooperatives are presented and evaluated in detail as a rising cosmopolitan community. The main goal is to characterise this enterprise group and achieve an overview of its status quo, based upon quantitative assessment of secondary data on German energy cooperatives. Section 6.1 outlines the enterprise network, while Sect. 6.2 describes substantial resources that have thus far been mobilised by the entire community. Section 6.3 characterises associated actors, and a summary is given in Sect. 6.4.

Sarah Debor

Chapter 7. Analysis of Dominant Collaborative Interaction Models

Abstract

Interaction of energy cooperatives is analysed based upon three different case studies. The case study analysis shall reveal whether and how energy cooperatives may support new patterns of rules and resources, which impact they have at the local level and how they achieved an influential position within their focus region. The chosen cases are relevant because they are typical and powerful examples of the whole enterprise community. Each of them stands for one of the three dominant collaborative interaction models that are preferred by 72% of renewable energy production cooperatives in order to do business. In addition each of the three cases belongs to the biggest German energy production cooperatives, regarding members and total capital. The typical case character ensures that results can be related to the whole organisational network. Their powerful character demonstrates how actor empowerment takes place within the community and sheds light on aligned potentials, challenges and pre-conditions. The cases were identified during the quantitative assessment. Figure 7.1 displays how each case study is analysed in the following.

Sarah Debor

Chapter 8. Discussion of Results

Abstract

In this section, the results of my quantitative assessment of secondary data and the results from the three detailed case studies are merged and jointly discussed. The aim here is to achieve a holistic understanding of the influence of energy cooperatives on Germany’s on-going energy transition.

Sarah Debor

Chapter 9. Conclusion and Outlook

Abstract

This work has explored the influence of renewable energy cooperatives within Germany’s currently transitioning energy system. Section 9.1 presents an overall summary of my results and gives suggestions for the future, and Sect. 9.2 provides some reflection on the theoretical framework deployed. In closing, Sect. 9.3 discusses possibilities for future research.

Sarah Debor

Backmatter

Titel: Multiplying Mighty Davids?
verfasst von: Sarah Debor
Verlag: Springer International Publishing
Electronic ISBN: 978-3-319-77628-6
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-77627-9
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-77628-6