Guestprofessorship in renewable energy activism for energy transition

Time period:

1 January 2015 – 30 December 2017

Funder:

Swedish Energy Agency

Type of award:

Project grant

Total funding:

1,385,371 SEK

Environmentalism is mainly presented as externally located opposition to the corporate world, with the assumption that ‘activism’ is something that takes place within the realms of civil society and not within business. Environmental activism is also predefined as linked to political conflict and social struggles and the specific practice of demonstration and protest. However, with the strong call for a transition towards more sustainable energy systems, there is a growing tendency of incorporation of activist arguments, activities, and indeed activists themselves, within utility companies and among smaller renewable energy start-ups. This reformed activism and strong links between energy communities and businesses is thus an understudied but important part of the energy transition. By an assessment of Renewable Energy Activism (REA) within different cases, we can thus learn how more traditional policy instruments are complemented by activist efforts, and how these can be directed.