Search

SONNET aims to co-create a rich inter- and transdisciplinary understanding of the diversity,processes (including enabling and impeding factors) and contributions of SIE (social innovation in the energy sector). In WP3, we make use of a multiple, embedded case study approach, using diverse units of analysis to build a better understanding of SIE-fields and the SIE-initiatives within them. The main unit of analysis is the SIE-field, while the subunits of analysis are the SIE, different SIE-field-actors (who work on the SIE) and their SIE-initiatives, and other field-actors (who enable and impede the SIE). The analysis also considers the context of wider socio-political, socio-economic and sociocultural issues linked to these actors and the SIE-field. The case studies are presented as a series of six country reports: France, Germany, Netherlands, Poland, Switzerland, and United Kingdom. Each country report presents three embedded case studies of SIE-fields within their national context. Overall, the country reports present 18 embedded case studies of SIE-fields, and 36 cases of SIE-initiatives nested within the SIE-field investigations and published in deliverable D3.2 This deliverable D3.3 has two overall aims. First, to dive into a comparative analysis of each SIE-field and their SIE-initiatives across three SONNET countries (for example, comparing framings against fossil fuel energy pathways in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Poland). This analysis draws on empirical phenomena surfacing in the different cases and specific concepts that help to further the understanding of SIE. Second, to derive key insights into specific aspects of the diversity, processes and contributions of SIE.

Bristol City Council focuses on the questions: How can crowdfunding as an investment activity be made use of to collectively raise the capital to install energy efficiency measures within community buildings within an urban area? Community centres have always been hubs for communities in the UK. Cuts from local authorities mean that many services once coordinated by the council are now being taken on by the local community. Community occupied buildings are often the last to receive the necessary energy efficiency adaptations and this is nearly always down to a lack of finance. The energy efficiency of these buildings is key to the level of comfort. Moreover, if energy bills can be reduced, there is ultimately more revenue available for the community to undertake their core activities. Crowdfunding not only has the benefit of being able to raise capital in a collective way, but it also is a method that attracts attention by its very nature and requires the residents of Bristol to come together to raise the funds required.

This guidebook is intended to inspire city representatives, local authorities, citizens and NGOs, local entrepreneurs and academics interested in new ways of engaging in urban sustainable transitions. Its practice based and accessible format should prepare city representatives to set up and conduct their own City Labs, even if they have no previous experience with this form of governance innovation.

This report addresses the following research questions: How do Social Innovation in energy (SIE) and SIE-fieldsemerge, develop, and institutionalise over time? How do SIE-field-actors and other field-actors interact with the‘outside’ institutional environment and thereby co-shape the SIE-field over time? What are the enabling and impeding factors for SIE-field-actors and other field-actors to conduct institutional work and change the ‘outside’ institutional environment? In WP3, we make use of a multiple, embedded case study approach, building a better understanding of SIE-fields (e.g. ‘local electricity exchange’ and ‘cooperative organisational models for renewable energy’) using diverse units of analysis. The main unit of analysis is the SIE-field, whereas the subunits of analysis are made up of the SIE (e.g. multi-actor collectives implementing local electricity exchange), different SIE-field-actors (who work on) and their SIE-initiatives (e.g. Energy Local or Ripple Energy, UK) and other field-actors (who enable and impede SIE) (e.g. Ofgem’s sandbox trials, UK). They are embedded in their respective context, which relates to wider socio-political, social-economic and sociocultural issues linked to these actors and SIE-field. The case studies are presented as a series of six country reports: France, Germany, Netherlands/Belgium, Poland, Switzerland, and United Kingdom. Each country report contains documentation of three embedded case studies of SIE-fields set in their national context, giving a full set of 18 embedded case studies across all six SONNET countries. In these embedded case studies, 36 cases of SIE-initiatives are nested within the SIE-field investigations.

SONNET (Social Innovation in Energy Transitions) aims to co-create a rich understanding of the diversity, processes, contributions, successes and future potentials of social innovation in the energy sector (SIE). This deliverable addresses SONNET’s objective 2, namely, to identify and analyse socio-political enabling and impeding factors for SIE processes, as well as SONNET's objective 5 – the design of socio-political strategies for encouraging SIE. It provides the conceptual framework and the methodological approach for policy networks as well as the qualitative and quantitative analysis of policy networks in six SONNET cities. In SONNET's task T2.2 we aim to identify for each of our six SONNET cities the policy network in which SIE-initiatives are embedded. A policy network analysis is conducted with a particular focus on the relations between key actors at the local, regional, national and EU level (e.g. policymakers, city administrations, energy utilities, businesses and network organisations), and to identify enabling and impeding structures for SIE-initiatives.