Energy Cooperatives
The origins of the idea of energy cooperatives appeared in projects in the 1970s and 1980s with the promotion of community-owned wind energy projects. At the same time, new renewable energy sources (RES) developed, such as biomass boilers and solar thermal panels. In EU countries two sectors emerged: the production of RE and the supply of electricity, including those based on renewable sources. Naturally, after obtaining the surplus energy sources, the producers were interested in sharing renewable energy. When the electricity trade market was liberalized, more powerful energy exchange companies emerged. They also start to provide RES-based electricity increasing their share and the control of a significant part of the energy supply chain.
Energy cooperatives in EU countries
Energy cooperatives are popular in EU countries. The examples are Denmark and Germany. In Denmark, there are 2.5 thousand energy cooperatives. In Germany, there are more than a thousand energy cooperatives. Energy cooperatives as RES are also popular in Austria, Sweden, Netherlands, Italy, France, and Spain. The level of energy cooperatives is the result of civil investment in renewable energy sources. It can be clearly seen in the countries which actively participate in the global policy of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Energy cooperatives in Poland
Poland is the country with still a little experience in energy cooperatives. In Poland, energy cooperatives have been operating for 3 years. The first definition of energy cooperatives in Polish law was introduced in 2015, where the term was defined in the 2015 RES Act. The detailed provisions regulating the activities of RE cooperatives were introduced in 2018.
The first energy cooperative in Poland was registered on 11 May 2021, and it was the energy cooperative “Eisall”. The area of activity of this cooperative included the Mazowieckie Voivodeship and the communes of Raszyn, Nadarzyn, and Michałowice. The second cooperative was “Our Energy” (Nasza Energia), localized in Mszana in the Silesian Region. This EC, with 15 installations, was registered on 21 December 2021. Currently, 21 energy cooperatives operate in Poland (as of 13 November 2023) with 89 installations. In 2021, two cooperatives were registered in the list kept by KOWR (the body responsible for keeping the register of energy cooperatives in Poland), one in the Mazowieckie Voivodship and the other in the Silesian Voivodship.
In 2022, no energy cooperatives were registered in Poland, and the remaining 19 were registered in the first months of 2023. The development of energy cooperatives in Poland was greatly influenced by the RENALDO program, whose funds were earmarked for the creation of pilot energy cooperatives in selected municipalities of the Podlaskie and Kujawsko–Pomorskie Voivodeships. The program was implemented in March 2023. The program is 100% funded by the EU and the German Ministry. The rule is that ECs may be established by private individuals, companies, or local government units. of course, the cooperative is established to produce and share electricity from renewable sources.
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Case study method
Case study method. In the realm of scientific inquiry, one of the pivotal functions is explication (Noun:explanation, interpretation, explication, commentary, gloss). In some context, the deployment of qualitative research methodologies emerges as a acurate strategy. The primary objective here was the acquisition of the maximum of profound (deep, intense) understanding of the process. It should include its operational dynamics and a phenomenon of its rising in the Polish context. The essence of the investigation is to discover the core of the phenomenon.
The qualitative methodologies offers the distinct advantage of (a) enabling observation the reality specific to the entity under examination. It allows (b) capturing the contextual milieu within which the relationships of interest transpire. This approach (c) facilitates a nuanced, multifaceted analysis of the amassed data.
The researchers, upon contemplation, adjudged this methodological approach as befitting the cognitive objectives aimed at augmenting the corpus of knowledge regarding the operation of energy cooperatives in Poland. The case study method provided an avenue to capture experiences and interactions within their authentic context, duly considering the distinctiveness of the subject under study.
Purposive sampling
Predominantly, case study research is characterized by purposive sampling, a technique that, while nonrepresentative and rooted in subjective judgment, serves specific investigative purposes. The absence of representativeness precludes the possibility of hypothesis testing. In this scenario, the utility of the selected case for explicating the phenomenon under study forms the cornerstone of the subjective assessment criterion. An initial reconnaissance of the research subject, the “Our Energy” energy cooperative, led the authors to surmise that this entity would yield the requisite information. The choice of the research subject was influenced not only by substantive criteria but also by factors such as the cooperative’s location and the proprietors’ receptiveness to participating in the study.
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SWOT
Data were also gathered concerning the strengths and weaknesses, as well as opportunities and threats, of the energy cooperative “Our Energy” for the purpose of conducting a SWOT analysis. SWOT analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats), also known as the analysis of strengths and weaknesses in the context of opportunities and threats posed by the environment, is a strategic tool used to assess the competitive position of an institution or a company. It involves identifying key factors determining the entity’s competitive strength and evaluating them using a specific set of criteria and rating scales. SWOT analysis is one of the possible strategic analyses that can be applied.
Other analyses that exist in theory and business practice include, among others: PESTEL analysis (political, economic, social, technological, environmental, legal)—assessing the impact of the macro-environment on the organization.
Porter’s five forces analysis—focusing on industry competitiveness and the market position of the company
Value chain analysis—identifying internal company activities that create value for the customer
BCG matrix (Boston Consulting Group)—analyzing the company’s product portfolio based on market growth and market share.
Considering the limitations of SWOT analysis, the authors chose this method due to its simplicity and universality, ease of understanding, versatility, and the possibility of application in various contexts and different types of organizations. Moreover, SWOT analysis helps to identify key factors influencing success and facilitates the creation of strategic plans by identifying areas for development and potential threats. The starting point of the analysis involves answering the following questions: what are the strengths and weaknesses of the institution, what threats must it consider, and what opportunities can it leverage?
