(Em)powering community energy on Gotland : An exploration of energy justice through a case study of "an island in an island"
(2023) In Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science MESM02 20231LUCSUS (Lund University Centre for Sustainability Studies)
- Abstract
- The energy transition raises concerns about local communities' marginalisation in decision-making and ownership models, leading to justice debates. Community energy (CE) gains attention as a pathway towards energy justice (EJ). Drawing on qualitative data collected on Gotland, we examine how the Austerland CE project delivers EJ. Our findings indicate that despite gender equality among members, there are ownership barriers for low-income groups and age-related disparities causing uneven distributional justice. We identify efforts made towards procedural justice but representation gaps in leadership remain. While vulnerable groups are partly recognised, recognition justice is not fully achieved due to limited efforts to engage them. The... (More)
- The energy transition raises concerns about local communities' marginalisation in decision-making and ownership models, leading to justice debates. Community energy (CE) gains attention as a pathway towards energy justice (EJ). Drawing on qualitative data collected on Gotland, we examine how the Austerland CE project delivers EJ. Our findings indicate that despite gender equality among members, there are ownership barriers for low-income groups and age-related disparities causing uneven distributional justice. We identify efforts made towards procedural justice but representation gaps in leadership remain. While vulnerable groups are partly recognised, recognition justice is not fully achieved due to limited efforts to engage them. The project delivers EJ on several parameters, and a strong island identity supports its implementation. However, structural barriers challenge Austerland’s ability to deliver EJ fully. Our study reveals that CE projects have the potential to deliver EJ, but structural changes are required to address barriers beyond the project’s control. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9120318
- author
- Mundbjerg, Frida Malin Møberg LU and Thomsen, Marie Bredkjær LU
- supervisor
-
- Henner Busch LU
- organization
- course
- MESM02 20231
- year
- 2023
- type
- H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
- subject
- keywords
- community energy, energy justice, island identity, local empowerment, energy transition, Gotland, sustainability science
- publication/series
- Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science
- report number
- 2023:032
- language
- English
- additional info
- We have received funding from Margit Stiernswärds fund for environmental management research and Mine Islar & Henner Busch’s research project “Of People, PV, Power Lines: Energy Islands in the Nordics”.
- id
- 9120318
- date added to LUP
- 2023-06-12 08:29:03
- date last changed
- 2023-06-12 08:29:03
@misc{9120318, abstract = {{The energy transition raises concerns about local communities' marginalisation in decision-making and ownership models, leading to justice debates. Community energy (CE) gains attention as a pathway towards energy justice (EJ). Drawing on qualitative data collected on Gotland, we examine how the Austerland CE project delivers EJ. Our findings indicate that despite gender equality among members, there are ownership barriers for low-income groups and age-related disparities causing uneven distributional justice. We identify efforts made towards procedural justice but representation gaps in leadership remain. While vulnerable groups are partly recognised, recognition justice is not fully achieved due to limited efforts to engage them. The project delivers EJ on several parameters, and a strong island identity supports its implementation. However, structural barriers challenge Austerland’s ability to deliver EJ fully. Our study reveals that CE projects have the potential to deliver EJ, but structural changes are required to address barriers beyond the project’s control.}}, author = {{Mundbjerg, Frida Malin Møberg and Thomsen, Marie Bredkjær}}, language = {{eng}}, note = {{Student Paper}}, series = {{Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science}}, title = {{(Em)powering community energy on Gotland : An exploration of energy justice through a case study of "an island in an island"}}, year = {{2023}}, }