Page 16 - European Energy Innovation - winter 2018 publication

16 Winter 2018 European Energy Innovation
ENERGY SOCIAL INNOVATION
Social innovation in energy,
implications for Smart
Specialisation
By Javier Gómez Prieto (pictured)*, Scientific Officer Smart Specialisation, Joint Research Centre,
European Commission
As part of the EU Cohesion
Policy, Smart Specialisation Specialisation dynamics. In this spirit, justice and energy poverty. Energy
is a place-based approach
useful to identify the
innovation potential of EU regions
and stimulate their competitive
advantage. The application of Smart
Specialisation takes place through
a policy process which allows the
design and implementation of
the regional innovation strategies
(also known as RIS3)1. This process
is carried out by following key
principles such as: (i) selection of
strategic priorities for investment, (ii) of energy as two thirds of Member
inclusive participative process with
the participation of local authorities,
academia, business spheres and
civil society organisations and (iii)
embrace a broad view of innovation,
including social innovation.
Social Innovation, generally
understood as new solutions
that simultaneously meet social
needs, can contribute to a better
use of assets and resources,
therefore playing a key role in Smart
the study: "Smart Specialisation
and social innovation: from policy
relations to opportunities and
challenges" has been elaborated
aiming at analysing current
tendencies of social innovation
and their relation with Smart
Specialisation.
The study focuses on social
innovation tendencies in the domain access to options in energy provision
States and regions have designed
a Smart Specialisation Strategy
including energy-related priorities.
Key findings
Based on the analysis of six
cases in different Member States
and interviews with experts, a
categorisation of social innovation
trends has been carried out. These
categories address the following
elements:
(1) Organisational element, referring
to how social innovation in energy is
structured. This category is related
to consumer/producer associations
and cooperatives for renewable
energies. Countries in Western
Europe have dominated the trend,
including Belgium, Germany, and
Denmark. A significant share of
these cooperatives are organised
in well-structured networks that
bring together citizens towards
joint ownership and participation in
renewable energy or energy efficiency entertainment activities addressing
projects.
(2) Social element, referring to
measures addressing energy
poverty is affecting people and to
date several million households in
the European Union are struggling
to secure adequate heating, pay
their utility bills on time and live
in homes not plagued by humidity
and mould. This situation can be
more or less accentuated depending
on geographical location or social
status, resulting in different levels of
services and state-of-the-art
technology.
(3) Funding element, referring to
innovative financing schemes for
energy involving citizen investment.
This category can further differentiate
into sub-categories such as: (a)
shareholding participation in energy
cooperatives; (b) crowdfunding
initiatives, notably in the sectors
of renewable energy and energy
efficiency; (c) citizens financing
renewable power stations; (d)
allocation of public resources via
vouchers or grants and (e) donations,
i.e. citizens voluntarily providing
financial support to an energy action
without expecting any return.
(4) Educational element, referring to
raising awareness and contributing
to increasing the acceptance of
renewable energy and energy
efficiency measures and projects.
This mode of social innovation can
explore synergies with cultural and
general messages such as the fight
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