Between People and Energy - A comparative case study analysis of the role of Energy Communities in Belgium and the Netherlands

Abstract: Energy communities are on the rise in the EU. Viewed as a potential driver to a socio-technical transition towards renewable energy, they are given substantial room for growth within EU policy. In some EU member states, they are flourishing, while in others they barely exist. This thesis analyses how the density of energy communities affects the shares of renewable energy in a state’s energy mix. This was researched through a comparative case-study between the two EU member states Belgium and the Netherlands. Grounded in transition theory, the study tests the hypothesis that the case which has a higher energy community density, also has higher renewable energy shares. In the end the study gave the opposite result. This led to a theory-related discussion, concluding that energy communities still theoretically are on a niche level, blocked by a systematic lock-in towards current fossil fuel regimes. In order for energy communities to be a key vehicle in the renewable energy transition a punctuated equilibria is needed. This could possibly stem from increased EU policy support or a stronger citizen’s movement by making energy communities more accessible to everyone. Furthermore findings regarding the size of energy communities led to a discussion on limitations and suggestions to future research.