Renewable Energy Cooperatives: Facilitating the Energy Transition at the Port of Rotterdam.

Renewable energy cooperatives (RECs) are an important element of the European energy transition. Allowing citizens and companies to invest in renewable energy and thereby become independent power producers has advanced the acceptance of renewable energy among the population, accelerating the move toward a more decentralized and sustainable power supply. We investigate how a REC could be designed to increase renewable energy deployment at the Port of Rotterdam. Based on a progressive case study conducted among a wide array of stakeholders at the Port and across Europe, we have found 14 specific characteristics a REC should embody to facilitate the energy transition at the Port. Based on these results, we present an action plan with concrete recommendations on how a successful cooperative could be launched at the Port. The results of this research can serve as a guide for stakeholders in any industrial cluster interested in driving the energy transition through a REC.