Re-Imagining Social Energy Transitions CoLaboratory

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“Stretch and transform” for energy justice: Indigenous advocacy for institutional transformative change of electricity in British Columbia, Canada
(Energy Policy, 2025) Hoicka, Christina E.; Regier, Adam; Berka, Anna; Chitsaz, Sara; Klym, Kayla
Transformative energy justice addresses root causes and legacies of inequality, centers voices and world views of historically excluded communities in the problem definition, decision making and transition processes. This study offers insights from a unique case of meso-level collective action by First Nations in British Columbia (BC), Canada, aimed at transformative electricity institutional change. We collate regulatory and advocacy text to characterise the range of proposed First Nation Power Authority models and their placement along a continuum of conformative to transformative energy justice. Interviews with knowledge holders from 14 First Nations offer insight into motivations behind transformative change and how it is shaped by historical injustice alongside practical community objectives around energy security, resilience, and community development. First Nations narratives of electricity transformation are aligned with the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous People (UNDRIP) and with goals of self-determination and incorporate relational and regional approaches. These findings validate theoretical frameworks of transformational energy justice (Avelino et al., 2024; Elmallah et al., 2022). Much of the groundwork has been laid by the collective and the regulator, while new legislation has opened a window of opportunity to increase Indigenous participation and control in the electricity sector.
Insights to accelerate place-based at scale renewable energy landscapes: An analytical framework to typify the emergence of renewable energy clusters along the energy value chain
(Applied Energy, 2025) Hoicka, Christina E.; Graziano, Marcello; Willard-Stepan, Maya; Zhao, Yuxu
Renewable energy transitions depend on activities at both ends of the value-chain or lifecycle, from the development of new innovations and technologies to their widespread diffusion. Place-based at scale approaches to renewable energy landscapes create local value, incorporate multifunctionality and decentralisation, mitigate harm for ecosystems, address justice and local resilience. That the potential, demand, and production of renewable energies are place-based phenomena is not accounted for in dominant energy-economy models, requiring new methods of analysis for an energy transition. The emergence of renewable energy across landscapes is increasingly linked in practice to the concept of “renewable energy clusters” that acknowledge the emergence of renewable energy as spatially distributed, heterogeneous and place-based phenomena. Renewable energy clusters describe a range of place-based energy activities along the energy value chain, from production of technologies and innovations to their use. Despite their promise, there lacks a clear definition and typology of renewable energy clusters, and research has not yet synthesised the place-based factors that influence or inhibit their emergence, that could be used to inform place-based strategies that address local assets, actors, space, labour, knowledge issues, or localised justice issues. This work offers a first step by serving as a preliminary investigation of renewable energy clusters and the factors that may predict their emergence. First, a qualitative approach is used to identify three initial types of renewable energy clusters along the energy value chain. The fields of regional sciences, technology innovation systems, and energy geography are drawn upon to identify factors that may influence or inhibit the emergence and form of renewable energy clusters. The seven synthesised dimensions that can be tested to typify and predict renewable energy cluster emergence: actors, institutions, networks, knowledge and tools, proximity, location characteristics, and path dependency. These initial types can guide the development of a sample of empirical cases of renewable energy clusters that can be analysed through machine learning typification to identify a more nuanced articulation of vertically integrated cluster types along the energy value chain. Typification can reveal characteristics these renewable energy clusters have in common with others, and what outcomes emerge from these characteristics within the specific context of place-based energy transitions.
The political economics of civic energy: A framework for comparative research
(Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2025) Berka, Anna; Hoicka, Christina E.; Sperling, Karl
Deep civic engagement in energy transitions has been limited and unique to specific political economic contexts. This study develops a generic policy mix enabling civic energy, drawing on a systematic overview of barriers and policies for civic energy by country and region from 1980 to 2023. We show that when policy mixes support widespread diffusion of civic energy, they are likely to be “thick”; meaning that they align a wide range of corporate legal, market access, energy subsidy, localised planning and facilitation, access to finance, and capacity building policies - extending well beyond the domain of energy policy. Literature suggests that “thick” policy mixes emerge in contexts where there are narratives and conscious strategies for participation, political opportunities and resources mobilised towards enabling participation, with high degrees of fiscal and legislative decentralisation and policy coordination. In contrast, contexts characterised by low levels of civic energy are posited as having “thin” policy mixes, with limited opportunity for inclusive visioning or experimentation in multi-stakeholder platforms, limited decentralisation and policy coordination, resulting in marginalisation of civic arenas, conflicting framings and lack of high-level strategies for civic participation. We identify countries characterised by thick and thin policy mixes based on literature and identify research needed to confirm the existence of exclusive and inclusive governance and policy settings in relation to key indicators for both inclusivity and speed of transitions, allowing for better articulation of the value of inclusive innovation as a practical and beneficial approach to meeting emission reduction goals.
From tip to toes: Mapping community energy models in Canada and New Zealand
(Energy Policy, 2018) Hoicka, Christina E.; MacArthur, Julie L.
Community energy is associated with a wide range of benefits, for example, providing new social mechanisms for learning, facilitating economic development, and in engaging local populations in energy policy implementation. However, empirical research continues to uncover many differences in the specific forms, functions and policy settings that relate to community initiatives across jurisdictions. This paper examines community energy projects in Canada and New Zealand, two understudied countries with high per-capita greenhouse gas emissions, distinct practices of community energy, and Indigenous community participation. This comparison reveals a range of striking differences in what communities do and how community energy projects are structured. We use institutional theories to highlight the role of incumbent resources, actors, and political context to explain the variations of forms and functions of community energy. We provide a reconceptualization of community energy practice as a much broader in both energy activity and ownership structure than presented in much of the current literature. The distinct national practices of community energy found are explained predominantly by the policy settings: less privatization and more new renewable energy support in some Canadian provinces, with more uniform liberalization and legal support for trusts in New Zealand.
“By and for local people”: Assessing the connection between local energy plans and community energy
(Local Environment, 2019) Morrissey Wyse, Susan; Hoicka, Christina E.
“Community energy” (CE) is argued to be an opportunity to transition to low-carbon energy systems while creating additional benefits for local communities. CE is defined as energy initiatives that place a high degree of emphasis on participation of local community members through ownership and control, where through doing so, benefits are created for the community. The trend has seen considerable growth in many countries over the last decade. Occurring simultaneously is a trend for individual communities to create their own Local Energy Plans (LEPs)—a planning process that articulates energy-related actions for a local community (e.g. municipality). While CE and LEPs both address energy activities in a local context, any further connection between these trends remains unclear. This research develops a framework, based on CE and LEP literature, to assess LEPs for their relevance to CE. The research analyses 77 LEPs from across Canada for the ways in which they address the three components that define CE: community participation, community ownership, and community capacity. The main findings are that LEPs have emerged as a process that is both relevant to CE and capable of strategically addressing its components. Despite this, LEPs do not appear to reveal a radically different approach to the “closed and institutional” models of traditional community involvement practices. The investigation suggests that for CE advocates, LEPs may be considered to be an important avenue to pursue CE ambitions. LEPs could increase their relevance to CE by improving the processes and actions related to all three CE components.
Philanthropic organisations advancing equity, diversity and inclusion in the net-zero carbon economy in Canada
(2022) Hoicka, Christina E.; Coutinho, Aline; Zhao, Yuxu; Conroy, Jessica
Governments of all levels, businesses, and civil society organisations in Canada are committing or beginning to transition to a net zero carbon economy. The pathways of such transition are still uncertain, and there is nothing intrinsic to a net zero carbon economy that will ensure a more inclusive and fair future. The McConnell Foundation is dedicated to supporting an equitable and inclusive transition to a net zero carbon economy, in an effort to promote a transition that will create socioeconomic opportunities for all Canadians and permanent residents in Canada. Nonetheless, little is known about what civil society organisations are engaging in the net zero carbon economy in the Canadian context, and what strategies they are setting in place to support an inclusive transition to a net zero carbon future. The McConnell Foundation strives to develop an internal framework for evaluating equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) of its granting portfolio and provide ongoing support to improve EDI with partners. Additionally, it seeks to provide support to those who are currently marginalised or excluded from the transition to a net-zero carbon economy, as well as those who are most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. This report is intended to address this gap, and to inform the McConnell Foundation’s strategies to promote EDI in the net zero carbon economy. This report presents the findings of empirical research that maps out the civil society organisations involved with the transition to a net zero carbon economy in Canada, and how they promote EDI in such transition.
Reconfiguring actors and infrastructure in city renewable energy transitions: A regional perspective
(GEIST Working Papers, 2021) Hoicka, Christina E.; Conroy, Jessica; Berka, Anna
Cities as large centres of energy demand and population are important spatially and materially in a renewable energy transition. This study draws on available literature on material dimensions, energy decentralization, and regional approaches to provide a conceptual framework to analyse emerging city renewable energy transition plans for their material- and place-based actor scalar strategies. This framework outlines how the increase in renewable energy provided to cities results in new locations of productivity, interscalar relationships between new and centralized actors, and socio-economic outcomes. We use this to analyse 47 ambitious renewable energy transition plans in densely populated cities. Empirically, this study confirms that, for the most part, regions are important emerging actors in the decentralization of energy systems in a renewable energy transition; that city renewable energy transitions involve the forging of new economic relationships between cities and neighbouring communities and regions, and, as the community energy literature emphasises, that the involvement of a wide range of civic and local actors is important in shaping renewable energy transitions for cities. Further research can investigate how the institutional context is shaping these distinct actor material strategies and emerging interscalar relationships across regions. The socio-economic outcomes, particularly as they relate to new economic relationships between cities and the surrounding region and the re-spatialization of productivity and benefits, should also be examined.
Many actors amongst multiple renewables: A systematic review of actor involvement in complementarity of renewable energy sources
(Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2022) Bekirsky, Natalia; Hoicka, Christina E.; Brisbois, Marie Claire; Ramirez Camargo, Luis
Although complementarity achieved by combining multiple renewable energy sources (RES) is an important method to increase shares of RES, it is often overlooked in policy prescriptions supporting an energy transition. Complementarity can be implemented by multiple actors, however there has been little attention to which actors are involved, and their roles. A systematic review was conducted to provide an overview of the state of academic literature on the topic of combinations of multiple RES and the involvement of multiple associated actors. The sample included 78 articles using a range of methodologies to analyze varying combinations of wind, solar, bioenergy, hydro, geothermal, and ocean energy, alongside combinations of traditional, new, and supporting energy actors. Studies included contextualized (location specific) agent-based, techno-economic, economic, business model, and qualitative analyses, and decontextualized reviews, agent-based, and optimization models. Multi-actor complementarity is being addressed by diverse disciplines in diverse contexts globally, across a range of geographic scales. The majority of studies focus on solar-wind, although more diverse RES combinations were found in contextualized studies. New actors usually participate alongside traditional system actors. More attention to supporting actors is required. Findings highlight the need for further research beyond the technical benefits of combining multiple RES, to explore the roles of various actors. This can be accomplished by incorporating more context in studies, for example, using the substantial existing body of data and research, and by including a greater range of RES combinations, and incorporating more perspectives of associated actors.
Diffusion of demand-side low-carbon innovations and socio-technical energy system change
(Renewable and Sustainable Energy Transition, 2022) Hoicka, Christina E.; Zhao, Yuxu; McMaster, Maria-Louise; Das, Runa
To mitigate climate change in an accelerated time frame, more research is needed to understand how to achieve effective large-scale diffusion of low-carbon innovations. The conceptualization of sectoral socio-technical system transitions requires extending beyond an economic and technological focus, towards a wider system view that combines societal, behavioural, and institutional elements alongside the natural environments and infrastructures. Any socio-technical system reconfiguration will be shaped by the diffusion of multiple innovations. This study employs a novel empirical and quantitative framework that integrates considerations of system actors, behaviours, innovations, and infrastructure simultaneously. Based on a review of socio-technical literature, the framework scores demand-side, low-carbon innovations on a scale from regime reinforcing to disruptive across the dimensions of decarbonization, democratisation and decentralisation. It also scores the innovations according to the policy (economic, regulatory, informational) and legitimacy (actors, discourse) factors that support or inhibit their diffusion. This allows for the investigation of the relationship between the diffusion of innovations and socio-technical energy system change, including whether a relationship exists, its strength, and direction. In analysing 80 innovations that diffused to the demand-side between 1998-2018 in Ontario, Canada, diffusion is found to be negatively correlated with system disruption and decarbonization. Although economic supports tend to be a focus of mainstream policymaking, this study found that economic instruments, legitimacy through discourse, and combined policy and legitimacy supports are important to the systemic diffusion of demand-side low-carbon innovations.
Renewable energy communities under the 2019 European Clean Energy Package – Governance model for the energy clusters of the future?
(Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2020) Lowitzsch, Jens; Hoicka, Christina E.; van Tulder, F. J.
The recast of the European Union Renewable Energy Directive (RED II) entered into force in December 2018, followed by the Internal Electricity Market Directive (IEMD) and Regulation (IEMR) as part of the Clean Energy for all Europeans Package. The RED II, that the 28 Member States have until June 2021 to transpose into national law, defines “Renewable Energy Communities” (RECs), introduces a governance model for them and the possibility of energy sharing within the REC. It also provides an “enabling framework” to put RECs on equal footing with other market players and to promote and facilitate their development. This article defines "renewable energy clusters" that are comprised of complementarity of different energy sources, flexibility, interconnectivity of different actors and bi-directionality of energy flows. We argue that RECs and RE clusters are socio-technical mirrors of the same concept, necessary in a renewable energy transition. To test how these new rules will fare in practice, drawing on a secondary dataset of 67 best-practice cases of consumer (co-)ownership from 18 countries, each project is assessed using the criteria of cluster potential, and for the extent that they meet the RED II governance requirements of heterogeneity of members and of ownership structure. Nine cases were identified as having cluster potential all of which were in rural areas. Of these, five projects were found to be both RECs and RE clusters. The absence of the governance and heterogeneity criteria is observed in projects that fall short of the cluster elements of flexibility, bi-directionality and interconnectivity, while cluster elements occur where the governance and heterogeneity criteria are met. When transposing the new rules into national law we recommend careful attention to encourage complementarity of renewables, RECs in urban contexts and “regulatory sandboxes” for experimentation to find the range of optimal preferential conditions of the “enabling framework”.
Indigenous legal forms and governance structures in renewable energy: Assessing the role and perspectives of First Nations economic development corporations
(Energy Research & Social Science, 2023) Savic, Katarina; Hoicka, Christina E.
In the literature on community energy, there has been little exploration of how legal forms affect the governance structures employed and resulting impacts to communities. In a settler colonial context like Canada, renewable energy transitions and projects will take place on or near Indigenous traditional territories. In the emerging body of knowledge around Indigenous community involvement in renewable energy the role of the Indigenous economic development corporation (EDCs), a uniquely Indigenous legal form has had little attention. Although a range of governance structures that could support renewable energy projects exist; what has not been explored are which legal forms tend to employ specific governance structures. Employing a national dataset, surveys and interviews, this study assesses the experience and involvement of Indigenous EDCs as a legal form in renewable energy projects, the governance structures EDCs employ, and how these governance structures respond to the needs for self-determination and decision-making power of Indigenous communities. The findings show that at least 26 EDCs are involved in renewable energy projects, that EDCs tend to use economic instruments, while political organizations, (e.g., Band Council), tend to use political instruments, such as impact and benefit agreements (IBAs). Interviewed and surveyed EDCs agreed that ownership of a project is more beneficial than IBAs that tend to be short lived. Although full ownership denotes control over a project, which aligns with UNDRIP, the desired level of ownership varies depending on a variety of factors, such as comfort with risk and how provincial context affects preferred ownership structures.
How do we practice equity, diversity and inclusion in sustainable energy research? Advice for modern researchers
(Energy Research & Social Science, 2023) Hoicka, Christina E.
Climate change is one of society's biggest and most existential challenges in scale and scope. The energy sector is the largest contributor to climate disruption, and low-carbon energy solutions are needed for mitigation. However, the energy sector, and sustainable energy research, are not representative of society at large. Equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) activities focus on the removal of barriers, representation and valuing the contributions of individuals of a wide range of backgrounds, experiences, abilities and identities. Within this context, do equity, diversity and inclusion matter in sustainable energy research, and if so, as scholars, how do we improve in these areas? In providing advice, mainly to early career researchers, but to the established researchers too, I offer advice on creating and finding the culture and governance of EDI as meaningful practice in three steps: 1) find your people; 2) find or create spaces; 3) lean out and start again.
Implementing a just renewable energy transition: Policy advice for transposing the new European rules for renewable energy communities
(Energy Policy, 2021) Hoicka, Christina E.; Lowitzsch, Jens; Brisbois, Marie Claire; Kumar, Ankit; Ramirez Camargo, Luis
The recast of the Renewable Energy Directive (RED II) provides an enabling framework for “Renewable Energy Communities” (RECs) that is being transposed into law by the 27 European Union Member States by June 2021. RECs are majority owned by local members or shareholders who are authorized to share energy within the community, offering the potential to unlock private investment and financing for renewable energy sources and provide social benefits. However, successful implementation and a just energy transition requires the coupling of technological solutions with more open decision making, based on sound analysis, knowledge of engineering, spatial planning, and social science. We argue that financing and ownership models that address renewable energy complementarity, spatial organization of resource potential, demographics, pushback from incumbents, and inclusion of traditionally marginalized groups, are common issues across all Member States that are crucial for the transposition of RED II and a just energy transition. This paper highlights the benefits and challenges of widespread development of RECs, and using examples from the pending transposition process provides policy advice for effective implementation of the RED II with respect to RECs.
Canada's Green New Deal: Forging the socio-political foundations of climate resilient infrastructure?
(Energy Research & Social Science, 2020) MacArthur, Julie L.; Hoicka, Christina E.; Castleden, Heather; Das, Runa; Lieu, Jenny
A global movement is underway to harness the power of coordinated state policy to address the significant and interrelated challenges of environmental degradation, climate change, poverty, and energy insecurity. In May 2019 a grassroots coalition comprising a range of civil society groups—scientists, labour unions, Indigenous peoples, and youth—launched the Pact for a Green New Deal (PGND) in Canada, with more than 150 town hall meetings across the country. Participants called for 100% renewable energy, phase out of the oil sands, a 50% reduction in emissions by 2030, and the creation of 1 million new green jobs and reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples [1]. A significant reorientation to the scale and direction of government expenditure, as happened in the American New Deal of the 1930s, can spur technical innovation but can also exacerbate inequalities. A Canadian green transition is significant globally given its high energy production, exports, and internal use. In this perspective piece we examine the transformative potential of a Canadian PGND by focusing on the social and political characteristics of energy infrastructure: the potential for 100% renewable energy, transitions for oil sands, energy democracy, Indigenous energy leadership, gender equity, and energy poverty. The actor coalitions emerging from these then forge specific energy transition pathways, whether just and inclusive, or not. The Canadian case highlights the complexities and opportunities that accompany countries with large geographies, fraught geo-political histories, strong federalism, inequalities of access to clean affordable energy, and an abundance of renewable energy.
Reconciliation through renewable energy? A survey of Indigenous communities, involvement, and peoples in Canada
(Energy Research & Social Science, 2021) Hoicka, Christina E.; Savic, Katarina; Campney, Alicia
Reconciliation is about the genuine restructuring and transformation of the relationships between Indigenous and settler people. Although renewable energy has not been inherently positive for Indigenous peoples, Indigenous communities in Canada have been participating in renewable energy production, which presents a potential pathway to reconciliation, climate change mitigation and a just energy transition. This study explores whether and to what extent community energy—defined by deep engagement in process, as well as local and collective benefits—relates to elements of participation associated with reconciliation, both conceptually and empirically. A conceptual framework based in community energy was developed to characterize and analyse 194 renewable energy projects associated with Indigenous communities. This framework considered ‘community’ as belonging to traditional land, places where Indigenous people live, and as local authority, such as the Indigenous political organization of a settlement or reserve. Projects were examined by legal form, project location, and control. The findings do not provide strong indications of reconciliation. We suggest that one pathway to reconciliation is equity ownership, which has risen over time, although most projects located on traditional territories and Indigenous communities generally have minority or no ownership. There were no projects associated with Métis communities, and only 6 associated with Inuit communities. Institutional change requires implementation of free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) and extensive policy supports. Further research with and by Indigenous communities should examine how to support equity ownership by examining the findings of the 41 projects controlled by Indigenous communities and increased attention to Métis and Inuit communities.
Misalignment or exclusion? Investigating climate and energy philanthropy funding of diversity
(Energy Research & Social Science, 2023) Hoicka, Christina E.; Stephens, Jennie C.; Zhao, Yuxu; Soriano Hernandez, Pável
Environmental philanthropy is expanding while inequities and disparities among those impacted by environmental degradation are also growing. Little is known about the distribution of funds from environmental philanthropy, that is, who is benefitting and who is excluded? This study analyzes how environmental philanthropy is being distributed among non-profit organizations working on a low-carbon energy transition in Canada. The funding sources of 462 organizations characterized as either diversity-led or conventional-led were analyzed and compared. Organizations that are clearly led by equity deserving communities were classified as “diversity-led” while organizations that provided no indication of diverse leadership were classified as “conventional-led”. The findings indicate that the 356 conventional-led organizations receive philanthropic support from more funders than the 106 diversity-led organizations. The diversity-led organizations, that are more often addressing equity-deserving communities, received philanthropic support three times less often, and support from less funders than the conventional-led organizations. These results demonstrate that environmental philanthropy in Canada favors a large set of established organizations and perpetuates a landscape of exclusion for diversity-led organizations working on the low-carbon energy transition. By perpetuating disparities through funding, philanthropy is reinforcing inequities among marginalized communities. This in turn is setting back the progress of equity in low-carbon energy transitions in Canada.
Innovation intermediaries accelerating environmental sustainability transitions
(Journal of Cleaner Production, 2018) Gliedt, Travis; Hoicka, Christina E.; Jackson, Nathan
Institutions in the United States are undergoing modifications that present direct challenges for the environment and society and may result in institutional uncertainty and instability. This article explores whether innovation intermediaries can be employed as a key component of a strategy to create a window of opportunity for green job creation, infrastructure changes, and technological innovation in response to these types of institutional modifications. Based on a systematic literature review, this article outlines a framework that combines institutional modifications with technological innovation and infrastructure development as part of an economic development strategy. Important findings are that connections between innovation intermediaries, such as incubator and accelerator centers, niche actors, such as green champions, and regime actors, such as policy entrepreneurs, show potential to contribute to a green economic development strategy but require further examination for the specific roles played by policy entrepreneurs to help create the conditions for scaling niche experiments and simultaneously disrupting the regime. The key contribution is in defining the role of sustainability-oriented innovation intermediaries at linking local, state and business actions in order to scale-up and influence green economic development in a politically feasible manner during times of institutional uncertainty and instability.
Methodology to identify demand-side low-carbon innovations and their potential impact on socio-technical energy systems
(MethodsX, 2021) Hoicka, Christina E.; Das, Runa D.; Zhao, Yuxu; McMaster, Maria-Louise; Lieu, Jenny; Wyse, Susan
The rapid diffusion of demand-side low-carbon innovations has been identified as a key strategy for maintaining average global temperature rise at or below 1.5 °C. Diffusion research tends to focus on a single sector, or single technology case study, and on a small scope of factors that influence innovation diffusion. This paper describes a novel methodology for identifying multiple demand-side innovations within a specific energy system context and for characterizing their impact on socio-technical energy systems. This research employs several theoretical frameworks that include the Energy Technology Innovation System (ETIS) framework to develop a sample of innovations; the Sustainability Transitions framework to code innovations for their potential to impact the socio-technical system; the energy justice framework to identify the potential of innovations to address aspects of justice; and how characteristics of innovations are relevant to Innovation Adoption. This coding and conceptualization creates the foundation for the future development of quantitative models to empirically assess and quantify the rate of low-carbon innovation diffusion as well as understanding the broader relationship between the diffusion of innovations and socio-technical system change. The three stages of research are: contextualization: surveys and desk research to identify low-carbon innovations across the ETIS; decontextualization: the development of a codebook of variables; and recontextualization: coding the innovations and analysis.

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