Mainstreaming storylines of a social innovation: The case of energy communities in Austria

Andrea Vogler, Julia M. Wittmayer*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)
13 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

In the last four years, since Austria enabled the establishment of energy communities (ECs), their numbers have rapidly increased, and their role in Austria's energy transition has been widely discussed. This study explores how storylines of ECs, as social innovations, have changed during their introduction and diffusion. We adopt a dialectic perspective of niche diffusion and discursive struggles in sustainability transitions. Analyzing newspaper articles and interviews, we reveal initial discursive struggles and the diversification into seven storylines across four contextual phases, shaped particularly by legislative frameworks and the energy crisis. Five storylines construct ECs as positive change, one as a negative force on society, and one as ambivalent. We discuss significant changes in how storylines construct ECs, focusing on justice and citizenship, the reconstruction of actor configurations, and emerging postapocalyptic storylines. This study enriches our understanding of discursive struggles around social innovations and their potential to challenge existing configurations.

Original languageEnglish
Article number100901
JournalEnvironmental Innovation and Societal Transitions
Volume53
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2024

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2024

Research programs

  • ESSB PA

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Mainstreaming storylines of a social innovation: The case of energy communities in Austria'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this