Energy cooperatives are beginning to expand their role from stimulating small-scale electricity production to developing local energy systems, including cooperatively owned energy storage solutions. However, many technical, social and financial obstacles are encountered in this process. It is as yet …

Our Commons: Political Ideas for a New Europe is a collection of essays, case studies and interviews that showcase the wealth of transformative ideas that the commons have to offer. Featuring reflections on the enclosure of knowledge and the monopolisation of the digital sphere, stories about renewable …

A year later, in 2013, the Westerkwartier Area Cooperative was established – a new form of cooperation at the regional level, involving hundreds of dairy farmers, other SMEs, Terra MBO as the representative of the knowledge institutions in the region, the National Forest Service in the Netherlands (‘Staatsbosbeheer’), …

The transformation from the current energy system to a decentralized renewable energy system requires the transformation of communities into energy neutral or even energy producing communities. Increasingly, citizens become 'prosumers' and pool their resources to start a local energy initiative. In this …

Conferentie over duurzaam bouwen, energie en renovatie

Initiatives in the field of local renewable energy appear to be very successful in several countries. Because of their activities, the share of renewable energy and the involvement of citizens and civil society organizations in energy transition have increased. Examples form Denmark are well known, but …