Introduction

As a result of the Paris Agreement, the Netherlands committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 49\% compared to 1990 levels. A significant challenge in achieving this goal lies in the heating sector, which is heavily dependent on natural gas and must transition to sustainable alternatives. However, uncertainties around the viability of sustainable heat technologies, unprofitable business cases and low public trust in existing institutions pose challenges to this transition. A promising development is the rise of local communities establishing self-organized sustainable heat initiatives, known as Thermal Energy Communities (TECs), which emphasize community control. However, after a strong increase in the number of TEC-led projects in 2018, the number of projects has stagnated in 2021 and 2022 and declined since early 2023. Several factors contribute to this decline, including knowledge gaps within TECs regarding their professionalization, inexperience in civil-public collaborations between TECs and municipalities, and a misalignment between the current institutional set-up in the Netherlands and the desire for local ownership of collective heat systems.

Research Objective and Question

To fully integrate TECs in the Dutch heat transition, four preconditions including \textit{knowledge}, \textit{support}, \textit{access to capital}, and \textit{a license to operate} are to be developed. This thesis focuses on the \textit{knowledge} and supports \textit{preconditions}, aiming to understand how TECs manage the value controversies inherent to local energy projects by initiating social learning to overcome them. To guide

"How have value controversies in the professionalisation of TECs with complete control and ownership in the Netherlands initiated social learning?"

Gaining a better understanding of this dynamic will contribute to the self-actualisation capacity of TECs, increasing the number that become operational and enabling further research into their development.

Research Approach and Methods

To guide the research a conceptual framework is constructed combining the Value Laden Institutional Analysis and Development (VLIAD) framework by Milchram et al. (2019) with Schram et al.'s (2024) value-based approach. The constructed conceptual model structures the analysis of the relation between value controversies and social learning while accounting for the context specificity inherent in energy projects. The research takes a qualitative comparative case study approach and starts with analyzing how exogenous variables influence decision-making processes, using document analysis of TEC reports and demographic data. Consequently, a taxonomy of values present in TEC projects is constructed and dynamics behind how value controversies triggering social learning are explored, drawing on media articles, community meetings, and surveys. The analysis uses Atlas.ti as an analysis tool. Finally, expert interviews were conducted to validate and refine findings across the cases.

Key Findings and Conclusion

The study found that value controversies initiate social learning by highlighting mismatches between TEC decision-making structures and community expectations, as well as governmental regulations.

Single-loop learning occurs when TECs address immediate issues without challenging underlying assumptions, often due to regulatory constraints. Double-loop learning arises from community engagement and a flexible attitude towards the existing institutional framework by the project group. This was emphasised by Warm Heeg's ongoing community communication and responsiveness. Projects like Energiek Nagele, with limited community involvement, miss out on social learning opportunities, due to insufficient community support.

In conclusion, TECs that remain flexible and prioritise community engagement over fast project development leverage the opportunities for double-loop learning presented through value controversies, enhancing their adaptability and develop organisational resilience.

Recommendations

This thesis finds that during the development of TECs, they should focus on remaining flexible during the early project stages, avoiding establishing rigid rules and regulations. Additionally, TECs should prioritise frequent communication with residents, emphasizing broader environmental benefits at the start of the project while gradually shifting towards more personal benefits as the project progresses. Further research should further investigate the relationships between energy poverty and social capital on the ability of TECs to adapt to encountered controversies. Additionally, further examining the impulses stemming from specific values of the population involved in the project, seems an interesting and important avenue as it impacts creating and maintaining support of the community which is identified as the most important factor for success in this thesis.