Energy cooperative – model and perspective

Abstract

In view of the EU’s ambitious goal to increase the share of renewable energy resources in the final energy con-sumption up to 20% by 2020, the trend to decentralize energy production has gain on importance. In this context, the concept of energy cooperatives became a very successful tool for citizens participation in Germany. With more than 800 energy cooperatives and over 1.5 billions Euro of investment in the renewable energy sec-tor, approximately 200.000 citizens have directly contributed to the Energiewende. Every year about 150 new energy cooperatives are being established. The paper presents the energy cooperatives in Germany with their most relevant advantages and limitations. Due to the reform of the energy law, traditional methods of citizens participation in energy projects will face new challenges, thus their further development is of key importance.

Keywords

• energy cooperatives
• citizens participation
• renewable energy resources
• decentralized energy production
• energy law reform