Rising together Polycentric governance, niche expansion & the scaling of energy communities

Rising Together, explores how energy communities are transforming Europe's energy landscape. Over the past decades, these cooperative initiatives have blossomed, managing local renewable energy assets and expanding their services. Incorporated in EU and national legislation, they are pioneering collective action towards combating the climate crisis and promoting energy democracy. This dissertation dives into the intricacies of their success, revealing the conditions necessary for scaling, the underlying mechanisms and the diverse pathways they follow. Through conceptual analysis and an assesment of real-world evidence, it highlights the complex balance between efficient renewable energy deployment and democratization. In broad terms, the dissertation highlights the potential of cooperative resource management and underlines the power of community-driven solutions.