eprintid: 3897
rev_number: 5
eprint_status: archive
userid: 1
dir: disk0/00/00/38/97
datestamp: 2022-07-19 14:10:05
lastmod: 2022-07-19 14:10:05
status_changed: 2022-07-19 14:10:05
type: thesis
metadata_visibility: show
sword_depositor: 1
creators_name: Braam, Klaasje Trynke
creators_id: S2280434
creators_email: klaasje_braam@hotmail.com
title: Governing self-governance - Identifying barriers for Dutch civic solar energy co-operatives in the municipal  governance approach
ispublished: unpub
full_text_status: public
abstract: The Netherlands needs to accelerate in the energy transition. Solar energy projects are considered promising. Many authorities believe that the energy transition should arrive from bottom-up. This makes Dutch civic solar energy co-operatives valuable. However, the co-operatives feel constrained. This research focusses on the relationship between civic solar energy co-operatives and their municipalities in order to tackle some of the barriers present. 

Theory explains that municipalities’ policies focus on the common interest. Civic solar energy co-operatives, however, are defined as self-governed organizations, arriving from outside the control of government. As a result, municipalities can constrain the individual interests of co-operatives. The relationship and interaction between municipalities and civic solar energy co-operatives is largely determined by the municipal governance approach. Traditionally, this approach was characterized as hierarchical and administering generic rules. This shows signs of the technical rational approach. Nowadays, the approach seems to have shifted more towards the communicative governance approach, which aims to facilitate valuable individual and collective initiatives more. More urbanized and wealthier municipalities are generally better able to facilitate this. They also seem to see more need to do so. 

Nine concrete barriers in the relationship between both parties were identified during interviews with civic solar energy co-operatives. Based on follow-up interviews with their municipalities, five of these barriers seem to be easiest to solve due to the municipalities’ willingness and ability to do so. The barriers are related to the themes governance approach, information, networking, and municipal policy. This research provides recommendations to lift these barriers.
date: 2022
pages: 49
thesis_type: master
degree_programme: EIP
tutors_name: Roo, G. de
tutors_organization: Fac. Ruimtelijke wetenschappen, Basiseenheid Planologie
tutors_email: G.de.Roo@rug.nl
security: staffonly
keywords_local: civic solar energy co-operatives
keywords_local: self-governance
keywords_local: municipalities
keywords_local: governance
keywords_local: communicative rationality
keywords_local: technical rationality
keywords_local: facilitation
language_iso: en
date_issued: 2022-07-16
citation:   Braam, Klaasje Trynke  (2022) Governing self-governance - Identifying barriers for Dutch civic solar energy co-operatives in the municipal governance approach.  Master thesis.   
document_url: https://frw.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/3897/1/06062022%20-%20Scriptie%20Klaasje%20Braam%20v6.0%20-%20Final%20version.pdf