Research Perspectives on Renewable Energy Cooperatives in Germany: Empirical Insights and Theoretical Lenses

Yildiz, Özgür and Rommel, Jens and Debor, Sarah and Holstenkamp, Lars and Mey, Franziska and Müller, Jakob R. and Radtke, Jörg and Rognli, Judith (2014): Research Perspectives on Renewable Energy Cooperatives in Germany: Empirical Insights and Theoretical Lenses.

Abstract

Transformation of energy systems is influencing economic policy agendas all over the world, particularly so in industrialized countries. In this process, Germany has taken a pioneering role. Technical innovations, institutional frameworks, and business models established there are of interest for other countries trying to achieve broader use of renewable energies. Energy cooperatives have been an important building block of the energy transition in Germany, though their practical importance is neither quantitatively nor qualitatively reflected in the academic literature. Drawing on recently collected data, this paper presents an overview of German energy cooperatives in terms of their (1) organization, (2) membership, and (3) financing. We then review theories from economics and the social sciences that, on various levels, have been used to analyze cooperatives in other fields or other forms of community-driven organization. We discuss how these theories could be applied for a better understanding of energy cooperatives, derive a preliminary research agenda and assess the scope for interdisciplinary work among economists, sociologists, and other related disciplines.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: Business models; Decentralization; Energy cooperatives; Energy transition
• Subjects: D - Microeconomics > D2 - Production and Organizations > D23 - Organizational Behavior ; Transaction Costs ; Property Rights; L - Industrial Organization > L2 - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior > L22 - Firm Organization and Market Structure; L - Industrial Organization > L3 - Nonprofit Organizations and Public Enterprise > L32 - Public Enterprises ; Public-Private Enterprises; L - Industrial Organization > L9 - Industry Studies: Transportation and Utilities > L94 - Electric Utilities; Q - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics ; Environmental and Ecological Economics > Q4 - Energy > Q42 - Alternative Energy Sources

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