Content

Renewable Energy Cooperatives (RECs) have become an important player of the German energy transition in recent years: More than 1.000 RECs have financed renewable energy facilities and operate these facilities now, which supports civic engagement and the acceptance of the energy transition. Most German RECs have been relying on a simple and low-risk business model which can be easily realized, even on a small scale: the construction and operation of photovoltaic systems and feeding the electricity into the public grid according to the Renewable Energy Act (REA). But recently, this business model has become less attractive due to changes of the REA (i.e. reduced feed-in tariffs and a new tendering system). Therefore many RECs are searching for new business models. But: Are they really prepared to realize these business models?

In cooperation with Leuphana University in Lüneburg and supported by different associations of cooperatives we are trying to answer this question. Based upon qualitative expert interviews we developed and conducted an online survey. This survey covered (among other socio-demographic details) the qualifications and networks of REC board members. We asked for different educational attainments as well as for work experience and their relation to pertinent qualifications (e.g. renewable energies, marketing or law). Furthermore the survey covered the subjective self-valuation of the board´s capability to realize new business models. In total, 187 executive board members and 100 supervisory board members from 125 different RECs participated in our survey.

The results from Germany will be supplemented by a similar survey carried out in the UK throughout the next months.

Project members 

ISR (Prof. Dr. Carsten Herbes, Benedikt Rilling)

Partners

Leuphana University Lüneburg, Cooperative Association Baden-Württemberg, Cooperative Association Bavaria, Cooperative Association of the Regions (Verband der Regionen), Association of the Renewable Energy Cooperatives in Baden-Württemberg (VBBW e.V.), Bürgerwerke eG, Netzwerk energiewende jetzt

Duration

Since Q1/2017

Public Funding

None