POWER TO THE PEOPLE Energy justice through community energy in decarbonising EU coal regions – A case study of Lusatia and Moravia Silesia

Abstract

This thesis studies the potential of community energy to enhance energy justice in decarbonising European coal regions. It does so by means of a case study analysis of two EU coal regions: Lusatia in Germany and Moravia-Silesia in the Czech Republic. More specifically, this thesis examines the capacity of, and the conditions necessary for, community energy to improve distributive, procedural, and recognition justice, with a particular consideration of the specific challenges of coal regions. Indeed, this particular focus of community energy in coal regions represents the novelty of this research. Overall, this thesis confirms the high potential of community energy to enhance energy justice. In doing so, it validates and details the conditions necessary for community energy to enhance energy justice, those being: accessible energy prices, opportunities for public participation, and an inclusive design. More specifically, this thesis evidenced that a knowledge gap and lack of citizen engagement (as was the case in both case study regions) hinder the full realisation of community energy's potential. However, it also demonstrated the significance of information events and the role of municipal leadership to overcome the above-mentioned hindrances. In sum, by shedding light on the potential and conditions necessary for community energy to enhance energy justice in decarbonizing coal regions, as well as through noting a number of implications for community energy initiatives and policy makers, this thesis contributes to the broader understanding of inclusive and just energy transitions in Europe.