| Title |
Uperowding energy co-operatives - Evaluating the potential of crowdfunding for business model innovation of energy co-operatives |
| ID_Doc |
70248 |
| Authors |
Dilger, MG; Jovanovic, T; Voigt, KI |
| Title |
Uperowding energy co-operatives - Evaluating the potential of crowdfunding for business model innovation of energy co-operatives |
| Year |
2017 |
| Published |
|
| DOI |
10.1016/j.jenvman.2017.04.025 |
| Abstract |
Practice and theory have proven the relevance of energy co-operatives for civic participation in the energy turnaround. However, due to a still low awareness and changing regulation, there seems an unexploited potential of utilizing the legal form co-operative' in this context. The aim of this study is therefore to investigate the crowdfunding implementation in the business model of energy co-operatives in order to cope with the mentioned challenges. Based on a theoretical framework, we derive a Business Model Innovation (BMI) through crowdfunding including synergies and differences. A qualitative study design, particularly a multiple-case study of energy co-operatives, was chosen to prove the BMI and to reveal barriers. The results show that although most co-operatives are not familiar with crowdfunding, there is strong potential in opening up predominantly local structures to a broader group of members. Building on this, equity-based crowdfunding is revealed to be suitable for energy co-operatives as BMI and to accompany other challenges in the same way. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. |
| Author Keywords |
Energy co-operative; Renewable energy; Crowdfunding; Business model innovation; Sustainable management |
| Index Keywords |
Index Keywords |
| Document Type |
Other |
| Open Access |
Open Access |
| Source |
Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED); Social Science Citation Index (SSCI) |
| EID |
WOS:000403987500007 |
| WoS Category |
Environmental Sciences |
| Research Area |
Environmental Sciences & Ecology |
| PDF |
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