Institutionalized knowledge conflict in assessing the possible contributions of H2 to a sustainable energy system for the Netherlands

Hisschemöller, M.; Bode, Ries

doi:10.1016/j.ijhydene.2010.09.024

Cited by 14 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…The instances discussed in this contribution relate to existing support schemes, technology choices, and the overall organisational networks of the emerging sector.Transitions are complex, co-evolutionary processes of fundamental change [10,11]. They bring about a change of institutions, and of the formal and informal (explicit or implicit) rules of the game that shape the behaviour of its key actors (p. 14) [12]. Transitions are processes of disruptive change that entail system destabilisation, tensions and conflicts [10,11].…”

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Transition without Conflict? Renewable Energy Initiatives in the Dutch Energy Transition

2018

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In the context of the slowly progressing energy transition, a number of renewable energy initiatives have been emerging in the Netherlands. These initiatives represent alternatives to the dominant functioning of the energy system, and as such, may come into conflict with it. Transitions involve system destabilisation and conflict between the incumbent regime and the initiatives originating in niches. In order to assess the transformative potential of such initiatives, this paper addresses the question: what kind of conflicts and tensions arise from renewable energy initiatives, and what strategies do they develop to overcome or avoid them? Combined with a business model perspective, transition thinking enabled a better understanding of how the initiatives organise themselves, and where the points of friction with their institutional context emerge. We suggest that the instances of conflict may function as an indication for the state of the energy transition and the transformative potential impact of such initiatives. The instances discussed in this contribution relate to existing support schemes, technology choices, and the overall organisational networks of the emerging sector.Transitions are complex, co-evolutionary processes of fundamental change [10,11]. They bring about a change of institutions, and of the formal and informal (explicit or implicit) rules of the game that shape the behaviour of its key actors (p. 14) [12]. Transitions are processes of disruptive change that entail system destabilisation, tensions and conflicts [10,11]. In system transitions, change comes about as the result of processes operating at multiple scales [10,11]. External pressures, like climate change or nuclear disasters, occur at the landscape level, an exogenous environment. The landscape puts pressure on the incumbent regime, the dominant functioning of the system. It causes tensions within the regime and enables increasingly competitive configurations in niches to gain importance [13,14]. To break through, innovations in the niche have to struggle against the selection pressures exercised by dominant regimes [11,15]. Concurring with Hård [16] who argued that social conflict should "be treated as a cause of innovation, diffusion, transfer, and application-not only as a result of these processes" (p. 409), we suggest that conflict may serve as an indicator of the state of the energy transition process, and the potential transformative impact of the initiatives in the niche. Therefore, in order to understand, and potentially support, the transformative potential of REIs, this paper addresses the question: what kind of conflicts and tensions arise around renewable energy initiatives, and what strategies do they develop to overcome or avoid them?Although niche and regime contrast by definition, their interaction is not always conflictual. Some strategies take a more radical stance than others. There may be several reasons why niche-innovations avoid conflict with the regime. First of all, through actions tailored to maintain the s...

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Transition without Conflict? Renewable Energy Initiatives in the Dutch Energy Transition

2018

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“…Therein, an orchestrating shared orientation and discourse is crucial for the coordination of all agents interested in institutional change, i.e., change of the dominant institutions [34]. The latter are understood here as "the formal and informal (explicit or implicit) rules of the game that shape the behaviour of actors in society" (p. 14) [35].…”

Section: Sustainability Transitions and Transition Managementmentioning

confidence: 99%

Leading from the Niche: Insights from a Strategic Dialogue of Renewable Energy Cooperatives in The Netherlands

2018

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Renewable energy cooperatives envision and manifest an alternative way of organising within the energy system (and beyond). Yet, despite their growth, it is uncertain whether such initiatives are able to increase and deepen their impact, leading the transition to an environmentally sustainable and socially just energy system. This paper presents insights from a strategic dialogue co-organised with the Dutch national interest group of renewable energy cooperatives “ODE Decentraal”. We used transition management as action research methodology to organise the dialogue to understand and support the transformative potential of the cooperative energy movement. The dialogue helped to clarify the challenges and possibilities for scaling energy cooperatives beyond the niche, supporting at the same time the participants to reflect, strategize and develop a shared transition agenda. This contribution presents and analyses our intervention and its impact, also specifically evaluating the potential of transition management to facilitate social learning processes, reflexivity and the development of strategic actions. Our intervention confirmed the hypothesis that actors in the niche often focus too much on the competition with the regime for individual goals, thereby failing to collectively strategize and engage with incumbent regimes in a systematic way.

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“…One of the implementation problems is that it challenges the dominant knowledge framework as regards energy saving and heat provision and gives rise to knowledge conflict [29]. The option supposes a radical shift in heating from the 'normal' way, with heat distribution systems that handle so-called low value heat (up to 90…”

Section: The Glocal Garden As An Environmental Projectmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cultivating the Glocal Garden

Hisschemöller

2016

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This paper addresses the question under which conditions small-scale urban agriculture (UA) initiatives can accelerate a sustainability transition of the global food system. It develops the notion of a glocal garden, a large number of likeminded local initiatives with a global impact and forms of worldwide collaboration. Taking a transition perspective, the glocal garden, producing vegetables and fruits, is a niche that has to overcome barriers to compete with the dominant food regime. Since a sustainability transition restructures (policy) sectors, institutional domains including knowledge systems, the paper explores which innovations are needed for the glocal garden to succeed. It discusses the glocal garden as an environmental, a social, an economic and a global project. As an environmental project, the glocal garden will link sustainable production of food with renewable energy production. As a social project, it will be organized into a consumers' cooperative. As an economic project, it will strive for profit, increasing the yield in a sustainable manner. As a global project, it will enhance collaboration between local cooperatives in the North and the South, as well as with rural agriculture. Under these conditions, the glocal garden can develop into a power, able to resist a possible future food regime that splits societies, in terms of quality standards and food products, into haves and have-nots.

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Institutionalized knowledge conflict in assessing the possible contributions of H2 to a sustainable energy system for the Netherlands

Cited by 14 publications

References 20 publications

Transition without Conflict? Renewable Energy Initiatives in the Dutch Energy Transition

Transition without Conflict? Renewable Energy Initiatives in the Dutch Energy Transition

Leading from the Niche: Insights from a Strategic Dialogue of Renewable Energy Cooperatives in The Netherlands

Cultivating the Glocal Garden

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