Smart, circular and renewable: The role of cooperative governance in accelerating a sustainable energy transition

In the paper

“The governance model of cooperatives has been described by Ostrom (1990) as one of the best solutions for the management of common resources [18].”

What the sources say

• ?Could not verify

  The bibliography lists Ostrom (1990), but the passages from the article discuss the assets and limits of renewable-energy cooperatives, not Ostrom’s assessment of cooperative governance. Searches for Ostrom, common-resource management, and the claimed ‘best solutions’ characterization found no passage stating that assessment. (LLM, conf=0.74)

  cites [18] [18] B. Huybrechts, S. Mertens, The relevance of the cooperative model in the field of renewable energy, Ann. Public Coop. Econ. 85 (2014) 193 -212, https://doi.org/ 10.1111/apce.12038. - sourceExperimental — accuracy not yet measured

In the paper

“ARCH has been receiving recognition for its diversified applicability of a CE [44,45].”

What the sources say

• Supported

  The Introduction says adaptive reuse of cultural heritage is recognized as a driver of circularity and describes environmental, cultural, and economic benefits. Section 3.1 also describes its recognition in policy frameworks spanning heritage, energy, and the circular economy. (LLM, conf=0.88)

  cites [44] [44] D. Ikiz Kaya, N. Pintossi, G. Dane, An empirical analysis of driving factors and policy enablers of heritage adaptive reuse within the circular economy framework, Sustainability 13 (2021) 2479, https://doi.org/10.3390/ su13052479. - source
• Partly supported

  Section 1.1 (page unavailable) describes cultural heritage and the transition to a circular economy as applications of adaptive reuse of buildings. Section 3.1 (page unavailable) discusses growing recognition of sustainable development and expected growth in circular-economy and adaptive-reuse research. These passages support the connection, but do not establish that adaptive reuse of cultural heritage specifically has gained recognition because of its diverse circular-economy applications. (LLM, conf=0.78)

  cites [45] [45] O.M. Owojori, C.S. Okoro, N. Chileshe, Current status and emerging trends on the adaptive reuse of buildings: a bibliometric analysis, Sustainability 13 (2021) 11646, https://doi.org/10.3390/su132111646. - sourceExperimental — accuracy not yet measured

In the paper

“Other research highlights the role of self-enforced arrangements in fostering long-term stakeholder relations [54] and the need for polycentric governance to manage competitive and cooperative tensions [65].”

What the sources say

• Supported

  Section 2.1 links self-enforced arrangements, including trust and financial co-investment, to the value of long-term relationships. The polycentric-governance clause has a separate citation and is not attributed to this source. (LLM, conf=0.90)

  cites [54] [54] M. de Reuver, T. van der Lei, Z. Lukszo, How should grid operators govern smart grid innovation projects? An embedded case study approach, Energy Policy 97 (2016) 628 -635, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2016.07.011. - source
• ?Not checked — no full text of the sourcecites [65] [65] M. Grimley, G. Chan, ' Cooperative is an oxymoron! ' : a polycentric energy transition perspective on distributed energy deployment in the upper Midwestern United States, Energy Policy 172 (2023) 113328, https://doi.org/10.1016/j. enpol.2022.113328. - source

In the paper

“Secondly, the apparent absence of standardised protocols and certifications for DC grids further complicates interoperability and reliability, leading to higher costs and risks.”

In the paper

“Moreover, inte­ grating inverters into a DC-grid with both DC and AC components can be complex, which often necessitates specialised technical knowledge, leading to higher installation and operational costs and a slower implementation of the project.”

In the paper

“Secondly, although the initial capital expenditure (CAPEX) may be higher, innovations such as DC grids reduce conversion losses and improve energy efficiency, benefiting operational expenditures (OPEX).”

In the paper

“Additionally, unclear regulatory frameworks for DC systems add uncertainty and risk for developers, including a lack of guidelines for certification and approval of DC installations, which became clear throughout the project.”

In the paper

“Therefore, ensuring consistent performance over time requires regular maintenance, as inverters are expensive to replace or repair.”

In the paper

“Thirdly, over time, CE strategies could promote new business models, such as service contracts and performance-based systems, aligning financial incentives with asset longevity.”

In the paper

“Finally, the heritage site caused multiple underground uncertainties: not knowing the full legacy of underground cables, tanks, and other infra­ structure caused multiple challenges to install a new grid.”

In the paper

“both environmental as social externalities of using new renewables are unaccounted for, resulting in a market failure to prioritise reuse.”

In the paper

“First, it improves resource effi­ ciency, extending the lifecycle of components such as batteries and PV panels, mitigating waste and resource use.”

In the paper

“A fi rst barrier involves asymmetric in­ formation, as reuse involves large screening costs to find second-life devices, resulting in incomplete markets.”

In the paper

“Contrary to the reuse of energy generation appliances, the procurement stage of this case revealed that markets are clearly developing to offer repurposed EV batteries, resulting in a tangible offer by multiple parties responding to the public tender in this project.”

In the paper

“Finally, CE in smart grids can engage local communities by demonstrating the tangible benefits of sustainability, showcasing that successful CE applications can serve as educational tools.”

In the paper

“Finally, inter­ view respondents point at a lack of incorporating environmental and social externalities of producing new batteries.”

In the paper

“From a circularity perspective, the ex­ pected lifespan of inverters is a key but very uncertain parameter, as pointed out by suppliers and experts.”

In the paper

“Insufficient regulations and standards for reuse and refurbishment lead to challenges in ensuring consistent quality and performance, causing concerns about hidden defects and reduced performance, which can lead to additional main­ tenance and early replacement.”

In the paper

“Moreover, high labour costs to dismantle, test, and recommission renewables, as well as decreasing prices of new devices render the business case for reuse unattractive.”

In the paper

“Moreover, split incentives be­ tween grid designers and end users who eventually pay the bills of en­ ergy use, lead to suboptimal adoption rates.”

In the paper

“Repurposing the heritage site inherently contributes to circularity out­ comes but encompasses some specific challenges as well.”

In the paper

“Secondly, the process for obtaining approvals to modify heritage sites is often lengthy and complex.”

In the paper

“A second enabler identified is reducing informational asymmetries by means of improved digital product passport or a coherent system of warranties.”

In the paper

“This is reinforced by a lack of access to historical data from battery management systems (BMS) which is a consequence of market power by car manufacturers.”

In the paper

“Finally, community development, such as implementing cooperative models, have been suggested to provide shared smart ser­ vices that are both more accessible and attractive to a wider range of users, as well as incentivizing to keep on engaging stakeholders to embrace circular solutions in the long term.”

In the paper

“Other respondents prefer a multistakeholder setting in which citizens, businesses, and public authorities would join as different stakeholders, each having different stakes and expectations that need to be balanced.”

In the paper

“As an enabler, interview respondents pointed at public procurement to spur market development of modular and upgradeable EV charging systems that allow for easier repair and scalability.”

In the paper

“A multilevel organisational structure would be welcomed, as recurrently pointed out during project meetings, combining a locally embedded organisation with a larger cooperative network.”

In the paper

“While decoupling voting rights from financial contributions may promote inclusivity, respondents highlight that community building and cohesion is more critical for long-term member engagement than having a formal vote.”

In the paper

“Firstly, EMS can optimise energy consumption by monitoring and controlling energy use in real time and adjusting energy demand in response to supply conditions.”

In the paper

“Secondly, respondents emphasise that membership should provide tangible benefits, such as access to green energy, financial stability, or returns on investment, while accounting for spe­ cific needs and interests of different groups, such as homeowners, social housing residents, and commercial entities, to foster inclusive partici­ pation and ownership.”

In the paper

“Energy management systems (EMS) enable smart grids to steer energy consumption etc., fostering circular outcomes.”

In the paper

“Most interview respondents support open and voluntary membership for its inclusivity and community engagement, emphasizing the need for clear obligations and tangible benefits.”

In the paper

“A recurring item during project meetings and interviews was that technical expertise is crucial for managing the smart grid, which cannot be expected from the members themselves, necessitating skilled professionals throughout the lifecycle of the grid.”

In the paper

“We once again identify incomplete markets, which are increasingly devel­ oping into maturity along the pace of the proliferation of EV.”

In the paper

“Interview respondents stress the importance of collaboration among cooperatives to achieve economies of scale, reducing overhead costs, and acquiring access to technical, financial, and legal skills and knowledge.”

In the paper

“Respondents highlight the importance of incorporating CE principles and total cost of ownership (TCO) into cooperative operations, fostering sustainable practices and proactive maintenance alongside financial incentives for members.”

In the paper

“Thirdly, embedding CE goals in the cooperative ' s statutes and operational procedures (e.g., on procurement and maintenance) is deemed vital to prevent mission drift, as future members may consider circularity goals less relevant in the short term.”

In the paper

“Markets for DC-DC inverters are mostly under development, resulting in high prices and a suboptimal pace of technological development.”

In the paper

“Respondents stress the importance of embedding CE and social goals in governance, while leveraging economies of scale to safeguard mission alignment and ensuring clear authority over CAPEX and OPEX decisions.”

In the paper

“The most pressing uncertainty of the entire project, however, boils down to the question to what extent EV chargers will be utilised, which is linked to the uptake of electrical vehicles in general, as well as the use of the parking on the Transfo site in particular.”

In the paper

“This conflicts, however, with the viewpoint of some interview respondents who claim that energy co­ operatives should be based on citizen-membership alone, precluding multistakeholder models.”

In the paper

“Our results identify market failures and how they could be resolved by means of cooperative stakeholder collaboration, such as reducing intertemporal externalities, split incentives, agency problems, and behavioural externalities of members.”

In the paper

“Secondly, EMS can extend the life­ cycle of equipment by ensuring they operate within optimal parameters and predicting when maintenance is required.”

In the paper

“Interview respondents often point out they would like the smart grid to provide access to low-income households at beneficial conditions.”

In the paper

“Transparent communication and regular meetings with these stakeholders have been identified as essential to maintain trust and accountability.”

In the paper

“While the scope of the smart grid is currently limited to EV charging, even there, flexible and smart charging business models are, according to the supplier, less likely to be adopted compared to (higher) charging high-speed tariffs that do not take energy production into ac­ count.”

In the paper

“While EMS systems may enable peak shaving and demand control, suppliers and energy experts point out that only a few customers will be willing to adapt their behaviour accordingly as long as real-time pricing and dynamic tariffs are not or incompletely implemented.”

In the paper

“According to interview respondents, their proliferation mostly depends on the uptake of DC grids.”

In the paper

“Our findings suggest that cooperative governance can mitigate market failures involved, such as split incentives and asymmetric information, resolving missing markets and facilitating the integration of CE strategies in smart grids.”

In the paper

“During the last 180 years, cooperatives have been proven to be an organisational form that is able to tackle societal problems while strengthening resilience of its members and their communities [15,16].”

What the sources say

• Not checked yetcites [15] [15] ILO, Promotion of cooperatives recommendation. Recommendation 193., (2002). -
• ?Not checked — no full text of the sourcecites [16] [16] S. Novkovic, Cooperative identity as a yardstick for transformative change, Ann. Public Coop. Econ. 93 (2022) 313 -336, https://doi.org/10.1111/apce.12362. - source

In the paper

“As the number of realised smart grid projects remains low, scholars increasingly document the institutional failures of both for-profit and public sector solutions [23].”

What the sources say

• Not checked yet

  Checked before — its earlier verdict is held back until a new check runs.

  cites [23] [23] A.-R. Kojonsaari, J. Palm, The development of social science research on smart grids: a semi-structured literature review, Energy Sustain. Soc. 13 (2023) 1, https://doi.org/10.1186/s13705-023-00381-9. - source

In the paper

“Analysing design-implementation gaps and boundary conditions for scaling and replication highlights the importance of overcoming regulatory barriers and engaging stakeholders through compelling value propositions.”

In the paper

“Market failures increase the costs of market contracting and can result in missing or incomplete markets.”

In the paper

“Finally , inter­ nalising externalities in product taxes on new energy generation systems would help to render their business case positive.”

In the paper

“These studies propose using a DC backbone as an alternative to alternative current (AC) backbones in smart grids by connecting various DC-based renewable energy generation systems, storage systems [39], and loads such as EV chargers [40,41].”

What the sources say

• Not checked yet

  Checked before — its earlier verdict is held back until a new check runs.

  cites [39] [39] H. Azaioud, R. Claeys, J. Knockaert, L. Vandevelde, J. Desmet, A low-voltage DC backbone with aggregated RES and BESS: benefits compared to a traditional lowvoltage AC system, Energies 14 (2021) 1420, https://doi.org/10.3390/ en14051420. - source
• Not checked yet

  Checked before — its earlier verdict is held back until a new check runs.

  cites [40] [40] H. Azaioud, A. Farnam, J. Knockaert, L. Vandevelde, J. Desmet, Efficiency optimisation and converterless PV integration by applying a dynamic voltage on an LVDC backbone, Appl. Energy 356 (2024) 122416, https://doi.org/10.1016/j. apenergy.2023.122416. - source
• Not checked yet

  Checked before — its earlier verdict is held back until a new check runs.

  cites [41] [41] R. Cleenwerck, H. Azaioud, M. Vafaeipour, T. Coosemans, J. Desmet, Impact assessment of electric vehicle charging in an AC and DC microgrid: a comparative study, Energies 16 (2023) 3205, https://doi.org/10.3390/en16073205. - source

In the paper

“In the United States, cooperatives have been active for over 70 years to electrify rural parts of the country [64,65].”

What the sources say

• ?Not checked — no full text of the sourcecites [64] [64] W. Gilcrease, V. DiCosmo, D. Padovan, Trends of rural electric cooperatives in the United States from 1990 to 2019: an empirical analysis, Renew. Sust. Energ. Rev. 166 (2022) 112641, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2022.112641. - source
• ?Not checked — no full text of the sourcecites [65] [65] M. Grimley, G. Chan, ' Cooperative is an oxymoron! ' : a polycentric energy transition perspective on distributed energy deployment in the upper Midwestern United States, Energy Policy 172 (2023) 113328, https://doi.org/10.1016/j. enpol.2022.113328. - source

In the paper

“Martin et al. [63] examine platform cooperatives that combine users and service providers for smart city development.”

What the sources say

• Not checked yet

  Checked before — its earlier verdict is held back until a new check runs.

  cites [63] [63] C.J. Martin, J. Evans, A. Karvonen, Smart and sustainable? Five tensions in the visions and practices of the smart-sustainable city in Europe and North America, Technol. Forecast. Soc. Change 133 (2018) 269 -278, https://doi.org/10.1016/j. techfore.2018.01.005. - source

In the paper

“Recently, Hu et al. [35] established PV reuse as the preferred strategy to mitigate carbon emissions for the four major metals in solar PV (i.e., aluminium, copper, nickel, and lead).”

What the sources say

• ?Not checked — no full text of the sourcecites [35] [35] X. Hu, A. Elshkaki, L. Shen, The implications of circular economy strategies on the future energy transition technologies and their impacts: solar PV as a case study, Energy 313 (2024) 133972, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2024.133972. - source

In the paper

“Fourth , mandatory requirements to engage in a modular design that facilitates repair and upgrading of these systems would reduce intertemporal externalities.”

In the paper

“Cooperative smart grid governance has been studied to address collective action challenges in their design and implementation.”

In the paper

“To align this with preferences, behaviours, and identities of prospective users and communities, it is important to acknowledge that governing a smart grid is above all a socio-technical challenge [23].”

What the sources say

• Not checked yet

  Checked before — its earlier verdict is held back until a new check runs.

  cites [23] [23] A.-R. Kojonsaari, J. Palm, The development of social science research on smart grids: a semi-structured literature review, Energy Sustain. Soc. 13 (2023) 1, https://doi.org/10.1186/s13705-023-00381-9. - source

In the paper

“Smart grids may enhance community resilience by reducing the risk of power outages, ensuring community access to renewable energy, or developing services for marginalised groups and civil society organisations [25,26].”

What the sources say

• ?Not checked — no full text of the sourcecites [25] [25] C. Hotaling, S. Bird, M.D. Heintzelman, Willingness to pay for microgrids to enhance community resilience, Energy Policy 154 (2021) 112248, https://doi. org/10.1016/j.enpol.2021.112248. - source
• ?Not checked — no full text of the sourcecites [26] [26] E. Tarasova, H. Rohracher, Marginalising household users in smart grids, Technol. Soc. 72 (2023) 102185, https://doi.org/10.1016/j. techsoc.2022.102185. - source

In the paper

“They have a long tradition of mobilizing people and resources to establish common goals, and are often regarded as an inclusive governance mechanism for energy projects as they allow citizens direct participation in decision-making [63].”

What the sources say

• Not checked yet

  Checked before — its earlier verdict is held back until a new check runs.

  cites [63] [63] C.J. Martin, J. Evans, A. Karvonen, Smart and sustainable? Five tensions in the visions and practices of the smart-sustainable city in Europe and North America, Technol. Forecast. Soc. Change 133 (2018) 269 -278, https://doi.org/10.1016/j. techfore.2018.01.005. - source

In the paper

“Smart grid development may be shaped by regional institutional contexts but the insights on cooperatives derived from this study have a broad international relevance given the globally applied and comparable framework employed.”

In the paper

“Moreover, the heritage site has multiple public good characteristics, as its societal value exceeds the private value of the site owners which may cause split incentives and positive externalities.”

In the paper

“Important governance aspects involved in designing, implementing, and operating a smart grid include ownership, decision-making processes, and the relationship between funders, installers, owners, users, and the host community.”

In the paper

“This subsequently causes an absence of proven business models, which in turn leads to a near-absent demand from market players, leaving DC grids invisible for most policy makers and confirming the regulatory lock-in of the mainstream AC-solution.”

In the paper

“Ziegler et al. [19] presented a study on the potential contribution of cooperatives to the CE, showing their potential to anchor circularity in the hearth of the cooperative model.”

What the sources say

• Not checked yet

  Checked before — its earlier verdict is held back until a new check runs.

  cites [19] [19] R. Ziegler, C. Poirier, M. Lacasse, E. Murray, Circular economy and cooperatives -an exploratory survey, Sustainability 15 (2023) 2530, https://doi. org/10.3390/su15032530. - source

In the paper

“These strategies will not eliminate the waste problem nor the demand for virgin critical raw materials, but by supporting lifetime extension and resource efficient design, they can significantly mitigate it, contributing to the slowing and narrowing of material loops.”

In the paper

“Thirdly , market development would also benefit from the establishment of infrastructure and support systems for the collection, testing, and refurbishment of used energy generation systems and components.”

In the paper

“This would also serve the cause of keeping materials within Europe, addressing human rights issues related to raw material extraction, and promoting circular ecosystems in general.”

In the paper

“In a study on a campus smart grid, no less than 74 KPIs in 15 service areas were listed [51].”

What the sources say

• ?Not checked — no full text of the sourcecites [51] [51] S. Alrashed, Key performance indicators for smart campus and microgrid, Sustain. Cities Soc. 60 (2020) 102264, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2020.102264. - source

In the paper

“Given the documented importance to involve users in smart grid design and operations [59,60], including their willingness to engage in energy management systems and demand response [61], we focus on the potential role of hybrid organisations, such as cooperatives, in smart grid governance.”

What the sources say

• ?Not checked — no full text of the sourcecites [59] [59] D. Geelen, A. Reinders, D. Keyson, Empowering the end-user in smart grids: recommendations for the design of products and services, Energy Policy 61 (2013) 151 -161, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2013.05.107. - source
• ?Not checked — no full text of the sourcecites [60] [60] W. Throndsen, What do experts talk about when they talk about users? Expectations and imagined users in the smart grid, Energy Effic. 10 (2017) 283 -297, https://doi.org/10.1007/s12053-016-9456-5. - source
• Not checked yet

  Checked before — its earlier verdict is held back until a new check runs.

  cites [61] [61] [B.K. Sovacool, P. Kivimaa, S. Hielscher, K. Jenkins, Vulnerability and resistance in the United Kingdom ' s smart meter transition, Energy Policy 109 (2017) 767 -781.](http://refhub.elsevier.com/S2214-6296(25)00130-6/rf0290) - source

In the paper

“While cooperatives are a promising model for advancing sustainable energy transitions, they require regulatory support and community involvement to realise their full potential.”

In the paper

“Markets may be missing as well because they have public goods characteristics, encompassing the challenge to resolve collective action problems [57,99].”

What the sources say

• Not checked yetcites [57] [57] [E. Ostrom, Governing the Commons: The Evolution of Institutions for Collective Action, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK, 1990.](http://refhub.elsevier.com/S2214-6296(25)00130-6/rf0270) -
• ?Not checked — no full text of the sourcecites [99] [99] S. Patala, L. Albareda, M. Halme, Polycentric governance of privately owned resources in circular economy systems, J. Manag. Stud. 59 (2022) 1563 -1596, https://doi.org/10.1111/joms.12810. - source

In the paper

“Nevertheless, they suffer from a lack of awareness and acceptance among the general public [69,70] or unfavourable institutional conditions to operate in the energy market, leading to an unequal geographical distribution of REScoops in Europe [71,72].”

What the sources say

• ?Not checked — no full text of the sourcecites [69] [69] B. Fischer, G. Gutsche, H. Wetzel, Who wants to get involved? Determining citizen willingness to participate in German renewable energy cooperatives, Energy Res. Soc. Sci. 76 (2021) 102013, https://doi.org/10.1016/j. erss.2021.102013. - source
• ?Not checked — no full text of the sourcecites [70] [70] [M. Tarhan, Renewable energy cooperatives: a review of demonstrated impacts and limitations, J. Entrep. Organ. Divers. 4 (2015) 104 -120.](http://refhub.elsevier.com/S2214-6296(25)00130-6/rf0335) - source
• Not checked yet

  Checked before — its earlier verdict is held back until a new check runs.

  cites [71] [71] C. Candelise, G. Ruggieri, Status and evolution of the community energy sector in Italy, Energies 13 (2020) 1888, https://doi.org/10.3390/en13081888. - source
• Not checked yetcites [72] [72] I. Capell ´ an-P ´ erez, ´ A. Campos-Celador, J. Ter ´ es-Zubiaga, Renewable energy cooperatives as an instrument towards the energy transition in Spain, Energy Policy 123 (2018) 215 -229, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2018.08.064. -

In the paper

“However, most of these projects remain small in size and scope.”

In the paper

“This strategy rethinks the smart grid set up and contributes to slowing loops by reducing energy conversion losses and extending equipment lifespan [42].”

What the sources say

• ?Not checked — no full text of the sourcecites [42] [42] H. Azaioud, R. Claeys, J. Knockaert, L. Vandevelde, J. Desmet, Self-sufficiency and lifetime improvement of community BESS on an LVDC backbone compared to individual BESS, 2023, pp. 2099 -2103, https://doi.org/10.1049/icp.2023.1184. - source

In the paper

“Cooperatives are distinct from for-profit organisational forms as their members are both owners and beneficiaries (or users) of the cooperative, and participate in the decision-making in a democratic way [62].”

What the sources say

• Not checked yet

  Checked before — its earlier verdict is held back until a new check runs.

  cites [62] [62] E.M. Limnios, T. Mazzarol, G.N. Soutar, K.H. Siddique, The member wears four hats: a member identification framework for co-operative enterprises, J. Co-Op. Organ. Manag. 6 (2018) 20 -33, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcom.2018.03.003. - source

In the paper

“This helps to build a knowledge base and reduce costs and risks of subsequent projects, triggering dynamic economies of scale and contributing to the market development of DC grids.”

In the paper

“Studies on higher-level circular strategies are mostly found at the component level.”

In the paper

“Regarding renewable energy generation, Rabaia [31] presents an overview of 10 circular strategies for solar PV, including strategies to extend the lifespan of PV panels, such as reusing discarded models, improved maintenance, and refurbishment of older PV modules.”

What the sources say

• ?Not checked — no full text of the sourcecites [31] [31] M.K.H. Rabaia, N. Shehata, V. Olabi, M.A. Abdelkareem, C. Semeraro, K.-J. Chae, E.T. Sayed, Enabling the circular economy of solar PV through the 10Rs of sustainability: critical review, conceptualization, barriers, and role in achieving SDGs, Sustain. Horiz. 11 (2024) 100106, https://doi.org/10.1016/j. horiz.2024.100106. - source

In the paper

“Cooperatives, rely on a set of organisational governance principles (see Table 1) that define the cooperative difference compared to other organisational forms [17].”

What the sources say

• Not checked yetcites [17] [17] ICA, International Cooperative Alliance Statement of the co-operative identity., (1995). -

In the paper

“Research on the social aspects of smart grids has been identified to be lagging to knowledge development of its technical aspects, resulting in major research gaps on energy democracy [23,27].”

What the sources say

• Not checked yet

  Checked before — its earlier verdict is held back until a new check runs.

  cites [23] [23] A.-R. Kojonsaari, J. Palm, The development of social science research on smart grids: a semi-structured literature review, Energy Sustain. Soc. 13 (2023) 1, https://doi.org/10.1186/s13705-023-00381-9. - source
• Not checked yet

  Checked before — its earlier verdict is held back until a new check runs.

  cites [27] [27] M. Wolsink, Conceptualizations of smart grids -anomalous and contradictory expert paradigms in transitions of the electricity system, Energy Res. Soc. Sci. 109 (2024) 103392, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2023.103392. - source

In the paper

“This, however, requires the smart grid to be financially viable in the first place.”

In the paper

“Never­ theless, a limited supply of DC chargers will eventually lead to relatively high prices and a suboptimal pace of technological development and integration.”

In the paper

“This calls for supporting the development of second-tier cooperative networks can further enhance resource sharing, governance efficiency, and the ability to scale innovative solutions across regions [126].”

What the sources say

• ?Not checked — no full text of the sourcecites [126] [126] M. Boucher, M.-A. Pigeon, Scaling renewable energy cooperatives for a net-zero Canada: challenges and opportunities for accelerating the energy transition, Energy Res. Soc. Sci. 115 (2024) 103618, https://doi.org/10.1016/j. erss.2024.103618. - source

In the paper

“the smart grid encompasses a potential to create value for households in energy poverty or lacking financial, technical, or legal access to renewables on their own roof.”

In the paper

“It would also enable scale-out and scale-deep strategies (versus scale-up strategies) focused on broadening the diversity of services offered to the same target audience and improving processes to enhance the impact on beneficiaries, respectively, which have been identified as suitable scaling strategies for general interest cooperatives such as REScoops [125].”

What the sources say

• Not checked yet

  Checked before — its earlier verdict is held back until a new check runs.

  cites [125] [125] T. Bauwens, B. Huybrechts, F. Dufays, Understanding the diverse scaling strategies of social enterprises as hybrid organizations: the case of renewable energy cooperatives, Organ. Environ. 33 (2020) 195 -219, https://doi.org/ 10.1177/1086026619837126. - source

In the paper

“This technique, originating from behavioural economics [111,112], helps to mitigate cognitive biases among interview respondents such as confirmation bias, hind­ sight bias, and groupthink.”

What the sources say

• ?Not checked — no full text of the sourcecites [111] [111] D. Gallop, C. Willy, J. Bischoff, How to catch a black swan: measuring the benefits of the premortem technique for risk identification, J. Enterp. Transform. 6 (2016) 87 -106, https://doi.org/10.1080/19488289.2016.1240118. - source
• Not checked yetcites [112] [112] [H.R. Thaler, R.C. Sunstein, Nudge: Improving Decisions about Health, Wealth and Happiness, Yale University Press, New Haven & London, 2008.](http://refhub.elsevier.com/S2214-6296(25)00130-6/rf0535) -

In the paper

“Important to mention is the international scope and experience of multiple service suppliers, energy consultants, research institutes, and citizen energy cooperatives we interviewed, allowing us to safeguard the broader geographical appli­ cability of our results.”

In the paper

“This way, cooperatives can partially internalise the positive externality of education if they apply an open membership model.”

In the paper

“although the conceptual framework of the ICA principles has demonstrated its applicability and value in studying cooperative governance [16,18]”

What the sources say

• ?Not checked — no full text of the sourcecites [16] [16] S. Novkovic, Cooperative identity as a yardstick for transformative change, Ann. Public Coop. Econ. 93 (2022) 313 -336, https://doi.org/10.1111/apce.12362. - source
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  cites [18] [18] B. Huybrechts, S. Mertens, The relevance of the cooperative model in the field of renewable energy, Ann. Public Coop. Econ. 85 (2014) 193 -212, https://doi.org/ 10.1111/apce.12038. - source

In the paper

“EMS can thus reduce the need for additional energy production and reduce the overall grid dimension.”

In the paper

“Given the global relevance of the ICA framework, this framework can be easily applied to most other industrialised countries and regions.”

In the paper

“This would also enhance the agility and resilience of these cooperatives to adapt to evolving subsidy schemes, economic conditions, and technological developments, as called for by [124].”

What the sources say

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  Checked before — its earlier verdict is held back until a new check runs.

  cites [124] [124] C. Nolden, J. Barnes, J. Nicholls, Community energy business model evolution: a review of solar photovoltaic developments in England, Renew. Sust. Energ. Rev. 122 (2020) 109722, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2020.109722. - source

In the paper

“Again, economies of scale are a crucial enabler for cooperatives to mitigate or resolve market failures.”

In the paper

“For example, for the Transfo site, revising energy-sharing regulations, such as the Flemish decree on energy communities, is a critical first step to incentivise shared energy use and cooperative ownership models.”

In the paper

“In Table A.1 we report an overview of the 33 anonymized interview respondents that have been interviewed during 30 online MS Teams interviews after providing formal informed consent.”

In the paper

“In the case of the Transfo smart grid, its founding partners (the municipality, the prov­ ince, and the intermunicipal organisation) could be considered a natural founding members of the cooperative.”

In the paper

“In this case, regulatory barriers resulted in a lacking viable business case, causing failure on achieving the 3rd and 4th ICA principle, which in turn rendered the first two principles redundant.”

In the paper

“Literature on principal agent problems within cooperatives pointed out earlier that a heterogeneous membership may spur freeriding in this regard [18,73,88].”

What the sources say

• Not checked yet

  Checked before — its earlier verdict is held back until a new check runs.

  cites [18] [18] B. Huybrechts, S. Mertens, The relevance of the cooperative model in the field of renewable energy, Ann. Public Coop. Econ. 85 (2014) 193 -212, https://doi.org/ 10.1111/apce.12038. - source
• Not checked yet

  Checked before — its earlier verdict is held back until a new check runs.

  cites [73] [73] T. Bauwens, Explaining the diversity of motivations behind community renewable energy, Energy Policy 93 (2016) 278 -290, https://doi.org/10.1016/j. enpol.2016.03.017. - source
• ?Not checked — no full text of the sourcecites [88] [88] S. Novkovic, Defining the co-operative difference, J. Socio-Econ. 37 (2008) 2168 -2177, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socec.2008.02.009. - source

In the paper

“Likewise, legislation that encourages the standardisation of smart technologies and their integration into the grid can facilitate a broader adoption.”

In the paper

“may distort value as failing to fully account the worth of materials, resources, products, and labour within market prices.”

What the sources say

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  Checked before — its earlier verdict is held back until a new check runs.

  cites [79] [79] T. Siderius, T. Zink, Markets and the future of the circular economy, Circ. Econ. Sustain. 3 (2023) 1569 -1595, https://doi.org/10.1007/s43615-022-00196-4. - source

In the paper

“While a cooperative may offer dividends or reduced energy costs for members, also non-financial returns such as a sense of ownership and pride among members may be crucial to increase the social acceptance of its activities.”

In the paper

“As outlined from the start of the smart grid project and repeated by many interview respondents, a circular smart grid requires technical expertise, ongoing education, and outreach to ensure that cooperative members understand smart grid management and the mission of the cooperative.”

In the paper

“More importantly, cooperative membership may be open, but does not have to be without obligation.”

In the paper

“While our focus on a single case study that lasted for more than 4 years allows to capture many project and process dynamics”