No. 7 (2023): Transizione energetica e partecipazione della società civile

The transition of energy supply models is an extremely topical issue and an essential hub for thinking about which ecological and eco-social transition can be imagined and implemented. The transition from a traditional model of energy production centered on fossil sources to one focused on widespread production from renewable sources and energy efficiency is at the center of the public debate as it is closely connected with climate change, decarbonisation, the sustainability of the dominant development model and, last but not least, the security of energy supplies and geopolitical balances. The need to conceive an energy transition rethought not only by governments and institutions but co-planned thanks to the involvement of civil society in its different forms is underlined, expanding the dimensions of democratic participation. This has recently also been recognized by European and national policies, in particular with the approval of the directive on renewable energy communities (Directive 2018/2001). From a sociological point of view, it is therefore crucial to extend the analysis of the transition to the contribution that civil society can make by promoting social innovations. This volume seeks to do this by bringing together different essays from academics, stakeholders and practitioners, who question the concept and practices of energy democracy, forms of collective action on energy and the benefits and limitations of existing and future energy communities. The starting point is an action research entitled “Group energies. The participatory consumption of renewable energy for an innovative model of local economy ", promoted by Adiconsum Verona, the Universities of Verona and Trento between 2019 and 2020 with the aim of investigating the role of consumers in collective consumption-production experiences and at the same time to set up energy purchasing groups.

Keywords:  energy transition; community energy; civil society; renewable sources; energy democracy