Market-based vs. grassroots citizen participation initiatives in photovoltaics: A qualitative comparison of niche development. (April 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hatzl, Stefanie; Seebauer, Sebastian; Fleiß, Eva; Posch, Alfred
• Is Part Of: Futures. Volume 78/79(2016:Feb.)
• Page Start: 57
• Page End: 70
• Publication Date: 2016-04
• Subjects: Citizen participation initiatives -- Photovoltaics -- Grassroots innovations -- Market-based innovations -- Strategic niche management -- Niche development; Economic forecasting -- Periodicals; Technological forecasting -- Periodicals; Economic policy -- Periodicals; Prévision économique -- Périodiques; Prévision technologique -- Périodiques; Politique économique -- Périodiques; Economic forecasting; Economic policy; Technological forecasting; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 330.0112
• DOI: 10.1016/j.futures.2016.03.022
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0016-3287

Abstract

Highlights: Citizen participation initiatives are a social innovation for a sustainable future. Market-based and grassroots CPIs differ in key processes and development phases. Currently, both types rarely emerge from local niche status towards regime level. Growth (market-based) or replication (grassroots) may drive regime influence. Both types depend on continued feed-in tariffs for their economic viability. Abstract: Photovoltaic citizen participation initiatives (CPIs) receive increasing attention as a form of social innovation, contributing to a sustainable decentralized energy future. However, their ability to outgrow a protected niche characterized by feed-in tariffs, to regime level, is unclear. Drawing on qualitative interviews with key actors, the present study classifies Austrian CPIs in terms of them being market-based (profit-oriented business) or grassroots initiatives (civil-society based community activism), and compares these two types with respect to the three key processes of strategic niche management: actor network formation, learning, and expectations management. Market-based CPIs exhibit a relatively heterogeneous external actor network. They follow a policy of business development, engage in highly professionalized learning, and access a large, widespread customer base. In contrast, grassroots CPIs leverage a tightly-knit network of local actors, engage in informal learning and shared expectations. In some CPIs, market-based and grassroots motivations converge. Both types seem capable of achieving regime level, either through individual growth or by aggregation of multiple small-scale initiatives. As yet, few CPIs have outgrown their local niche status. This is mainly due to a lack of intermediary actors which may institutionalize knowledge and resources to support the foundation of new CPIs.