Trends in Sustainable Energy Innovation: transition teams for sustainable innovation

Abstract

Energy transition is necessary, given that the share of fossil fuels in the total energy production ensures that we will not achieve the climate goals as set out in the Paris Agreements. Moreover, this energy transition is not only necessary because of the climate aspect, but also because of the geopolitical dependence on the supply and the easily accessible stocks of fossil fuels are in danger of being quickly exhausted. But this energy transition cannot only take place in a technological way-i.e., choice of energy source or generation-but must also be accompanied by an adapted flexibility, storage, and consumption. This can also evolve towards "energy as a service". To successfully make this paradigm shift possible, including the adapted business models, this is best done by involving the largest possible co-creation of as many stakeholders as possible, through social innovation. For the sake of additional knowledge, but also to achieve broad support and a smooth introduction. Transition teams play a key role in this respect in the context of a Multilevel Perspective approach with both monetary and social impact. This paper illustrates the role of three transition teams in a higher education institution in Belgium, an energy producer in the Netherlands and a grassroots experiment in the Netherlands. Their first realizations in "building coalition for change" are reported, together with the growth process into a "Change Through Network". This involves Energy as a service-including Public Civil Partnerships-and Energy Efficiency Service Companies that contribute to a smart sustainable building for a healthy human in a smart city. We show that this is a catalyst for a new corporate approach for the energy producer, a new social domain/neighborhood economy at the grassroot and a next level of pioneership for the Sustainable Development Goals within the higher education institution.