Facilitating energy transition through energy commons

Facilitating energy transition through energy commons: An application of socio-ecological systems framework for integrated community energy systems

Acosta, Cristina
Ortega, Mariana
Bunsen, Till
Koirala, B.P. (TU Delft Energy & Industry; University of Twente)
Ghorbani, A. (TU Delft Energy & Industry)

2018

Integrated Community Energy Systems (ICES) are an emerging local energy system focusing on the collective use of distributed energy resources (DER). These socio-technical systems (STSs) have a high potential to advance the transition towards socially inclusive, environmentally-friendly energy systems and to stimulate the local economy. While there is an analogy between energy in ICES and other common goods such as natural resources, it is not clear to what extent the existing theoretical framework for Socio-ecological Systems (SES) on the commons accounts for the specificities of common resources in ICESs and other STSs. This research explores the applicability of the SES framework to energy commons that are firmly embedded in STS with reference to the DE Ramplaan ICES in the Netherlands. The formation process and governance characteristics of this ICES are revised, further aided by stakeholder interviews. A framework and a strategic plan that can be used to design and implement an ICES are proposed.

Common pool resources
Community energy
Distributed energy resources
Energy transition
Renewable energy
Self-governance
Socio-technical systems
OA-Fund TU Delft

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:b9679a3a-7e9f-488c-8f58-5399463b8271

https://doi.org/10.3390/su10020366

2071-1050

Sustainability, 10 (2), 1-15

Institutional Repository

journal article

© 2018 Cristina Acosta, Mariana Ortega, Till Bunsen, B.P. Koirala, A. Ghorbani