Loïc Cobut - Local energy governance: Boosting or obstructing the emergence of renewable energy cooperatives in Wallonia?

Le Recteur de l'Université catholique de Louvain fait savoir que

Loïc Cobut

soutiendra publiquement sa dissertation pour l'obtention du grade de Doctorat en sciences politiques et sociales

Local energy governance: Boosting or obstructing the emergence of renewable energy cooperatives in Wallonia?

Abstract

Municipalities in Wallonia offer an interesting framework to analyse the (non)emergence of renewable energy cooperatives (RECs). In 2023, this region of Belgium counts 17 of these RECs, whereas it only had 2 of them in 2008. This paper is based on fieldwork in 18 municipalities: 9 where a REC project emerged, and 9 where a REC project failed to emerge. These municipalities are examined through a review of local media content and 66 semi-direct interviews with various actors in local energy governance. The analysis of this data has been conducted using thematic analysis, which led me to distinguish three thematic reports that serve as a basis for my analysis.

In this Thesis, I argue that the (non)emergence of RECs is explained by the position of the local majority towards a REC project, the presence/absence of wind turbine opposition movements and the presence/absence of tailored participative mechanisms. This research also shows that (non)emergence of RECs takes place in a political environment marked by climate delay. Then, I argue that despite this environment, municipalities marked by features of polycentric governance facilitate the emergence of RECs, while municipalities embedded in traditional governance systems disfavour the emergence of RECs.

Ultimately, I demonstrate the importance of local energy governance in explaining the (non)emergence of RECs. I also show that municipalities play a pivotal role in RECs’ emergence process. The use of the concepts of climate delay, lock-in, and polycentric governance allows us to examine local energy governance from an innovative perspective.

Municipalities in Wallonia offer an interesting framework to analyse the (non)emergence of renewable energy cooperatives (RECs). In 2023, this region of Belgium counts 17 of these RECs, whereas it only had 2 of them in 2008. This research is based on fieldwork in 18 municipalities: 9 where a REC emerged, and 9 where a REC failed to emerge. These municipalities are examined through a review of local media content and 66 semi-direct interviews with actors from local energy governance. Qualitative comparative analysis and thematic analysis methodologies were employed to analyze this dataset.

The QCA analysis demonstrates that it is the presence of a supportive local majority, the presence of well-developed participatory mechanisms and the absence of wind turbine opposition movements that explain the emergence of a REC. It shows that an obstructing local majority combined with the presence of a wind turbine opposition movement explain the failure of a REC project.

The thematic analysis presents four themes that help to understand the local energy governance in which the (non)emergence of RECs takes place. Three themes are linked to QCA results: those linked to the role of municipalities, participatory mechanisms and wind turbine opposition movements. A fourth theme unpacks the presence of climate delay discourses.

When combining those empirical results from the QCA and thematic analyses with my analytical framework made of transitions research and polycentric governance, I find the key message of this research: the way a municipality shapes energy governance can function either as a booster or an obstacle in the emergence process of a REC.

More precisely, I demonstrate that two models of municipalities exist. I argue that municipalities that rely on a governance that is more polycentric, which is more inclusive of local stakeholders and looks to enhance trust and experimentation in local energy governance, create an institutional and political environment that boost the emergence of RECs. On the contrary, municipalities that stick to traditional governance system, related existing routines, with an authoritative mayor that is not open to other actor’s ideas, maintain an institutional and political environment that represent an obstacle to the emergence of RECs.

Ultimately, this research raises questions about the democratisation of the energy sector in Wallonia. Long considered an ideal setting for transition processes, this research offers a contemporary perspective on the relationship between the local level and ongoing transition processes.

Membres du jury

Prof. Amandine Orsini (UCLouvain), promotrice
Prof. Tom Delreux (UCLouvain), présidente du jury
Prof. Thijs Van de Graaf (Ghent University), secrétaire du jury
Prof. Nathalie Schiffino (UCLouvain), membre du comité d’accompagnement
Prof. Marie Claire Brisbois (University of Sussex), évaluatrice externe