Energy cooperatives: Energy from the ground up

How can we, as citizens, contribute to the co-production of energy futures? How can we create spaces for alternative narratives that focus on inclusion of more vulnerable citizens and aim for a more just energy transition? Can we bring the energy transition and energy production closer to the people?

Energy cooperatives are a form of decentralized, non-governmental initiatives of local communities and citizens to promote the production and consumption of renewable energy. Learn from our speaker what role energy cooperatives can play in an energy transition, both in the Dutch context and beyond. Tune in to tackle these critical questions and more.

In this episode, Mathieu is joined by two speakers practically engaged in energy cooperatives - Siward Zomer, the chair of Energie Samen, an umbrella organization and advocacy organization representing all energy cooperatives and collective energy initiatives in the Netherlands, and Eduardo Muniz Pereira Urias, Assistant Professor at the Athena Institute of VU Amsterdam exploring how the integration of action-oriented, agency-driven participatory and transdisciplinary approaches may contribute to more just and inclusive sustainability transitions.

Questions or want to know more? Visit our  website or e-mail us at info.asi@vu.nl

Photo credits: Patrick Perkins ©

Podcast production: Daniël van de Poppe / Spraakmaker Media

We would like to share our thanks to our colleagues at the Amsterdam Sustainability Institute: Milica Mijailović, Neele van den Bongardt, and Philipp Pattberg.