Research Handbook on Community Energy

This Research Handbook provides an innovative overview of the ways in which community energy is researched, spanning historical, political-economic and quantitative modelling methods. It presents comprehensive analyses on a diverse range of case studies, investigating the effects of technology, growth and social movements on energy communities.Providing insights from over fifteen national contexts, expert authors examine the subdomains of community energy research in which recent scholarship has emerged. They evaluate normative perspectives, as well as different disciplinary and conceptual approaches and research designs. Chapters discuss the historical development of electricity cooperatives and the need for energy communities to build on and shape a shared identity in order to motivate a transition to sustainable energy. Exploring how energy communities act as vehicles of energy democracy, contributing authors critically analyse energy inclusivity and security, demonstrating how this research can serve as a practical guide for strengthening infrastructure robustness, resilience and system adaptability.The Research Handbook on Community Energy is a vital read for scholars and students interested in energy policy, natural resource management, human geography, and sustainability, particularly those focusing on human and institutional approaches to understanding green energy transitions. It also greatly benefits policymakers and sustainability consultants interested in creating or improving energy communities.