Symposium -  Jointly Getting the Energy Transition Done: Potential, Best-Practice, and Support for Citizen Entrepreneurship

Citizen-led ventures in renewable energies can be a significant motor for local energy transitions. They help ensure citizen engagement in the energy transition, stimulating broad social acceptance and improving energy justice. Collectively, they hold considerable potential to make a real impact.

This event will bring together interdisciplinary perspectives from business, economics, and law to support community organisers, local governments, and policy makers with evidence-based recommendations to unlock this potential in their communities. Attendees will have ample opportunity to ask their questions to the experts, exchange ideas, and make new connections.

Programme

Presentation 1:

by Dr Björn Mitzinneck , Faculty of Economics & Business

Under which local conditions can citizen-led renewable energy ventures create most impact? What impact approach is most promising where? How can (local) government best support citizen-led ventures? Based on recent research insights, we provide answers to these questions: We map the potential for citizen entrepreneurship in the energy transition across the Netherlands. We offer suggestions to community organisers which approach to follow in which municipality. For policy makers we offer suggestions what support is most needed where. Insights will help those seeking to use the potential of citizen ventures to accelerate the energy transition.

Presentation 2:

by Prof. Björn Hoops , Faculty of Law

The legal form of an energy community venture can make or break it. It is important to involve a legal expert from the very start to map the interests in the community and to tailor the available legal forms. Drawing on examples of real electricity and heat communities, this presentation explains how different legal persons, such as cooperatives (coöperaties), foundations (stichtingen), private limited-liability companies (B.V.’s), and combinations thereof can accommodate the different interests and make an energy community resilient in a changing environment.

Presentation 3:

by Wytze van der Gaast , Hanze

More information will follow soon