The Transformative Power of Energy Communities

The role of cities in the eco-social transition is widely recognized in the literature (Rutherford, 2014; Halpern, 2021; Bulkeley, 2010). In cities like Paris, Barcelona, and Milan, energy communities are reshaping the production and consumption of energy, challenging the technical, social and political organization of cities.

Much of the research on energy communities adopts frameworks like Strategic Niche Management (SNM) or the Multi-Level Perspective (MLP), viewing these energy initiatives as grassroots sociotechnical innovations (Capellán-Pérez et al., 2018; Dóci et al., 2015; Pellicer-Sifres et al., 2018). However, we propose to complement this approach by delving into their political and conflictual dimensions (Pellizzoni (ed.), 2023). To do this, we draw on environmental political theory and social practice theory to critically examine their transformative power.

Following the work of Villalba and Semal (Villalba et al., 2018) in dialogue with Cornelius Castoriadis and Ivan Illich, we employ the concept of self-limitation. We argue that this concept integrates three key dimensions. The first is ecological, highlighting the capacity of energy communities to incorporate ecological limits into their actions. The second is democratic, referring to collective decision-making processes. The third is social justice, which involves negotiating needs to ensure an equitable distribution of resources.

This self-limiting perspective allows us to explore how and to what extent energy communities challenge the norms that shape energy-related social practices (Shove et al., 2012), and outline a new role for science in democracy (Callon et al., 2001). By intersecting these dimensions, we assess whether energy communities embody “emancipatory alternatives to dominant social organizations” (Wright et al., 2017), which come closer to the ideal of energy democracy.

Through semi-structured interviews and participant observations within fifteen energy communities in Barcelona, Paris, and Milan, we identify four categories that illustrate how these communities integrate democratic, ecological, and social concerns.