Sustainable or Segregated?

Energy communities for a broad sustainable energy transition

The energy community (EC) concept is under development and has recently gained wide popularity among policy-makers. EC refers to networks of local producers and consumers of energy that exist in various forms, including what the European Commission has described as “citizen energy communities” and “renewable energy communities”. However, technology for renewable energy is not distributed equally among different socio-economic groups which leads to gentrification, segregation and can also in the long run lead to serious conflicts.

Who feels that they have to pay the highest price for the transition and who can gain from the energy transition?

Investigating this goal conflict is part of a larger project that aims to improve the understanding of how ECs can be used as tools in the planning of an inclusive, just and efficient energy transition. The objectives are to produce new knowledge on (i) the intentions, opportunities and strategies among key actors in public policy and public planning to externally guide and organise ECs, (ii) the internal conditions, enablers and obstacles for creation and management of ECs, and (iii) the potential and risks of contributions by ECs to reduce energy segregation.

The project will also provide practical guidance to planners, leading to increased quality in decision-making related to energy transition in Sweden. Researchers in the social and engineering sciences at Uppsala University together with practitioners at Uppsala Municipality will explore the scope, limitations and complications of ECs, and work out advice for their planning so as to facilitate a transition to a sustainable society.