For a long time, citizens were the main actors in the energy system transformation in Germany. This form of cooperation allows citizens to jointly build and operate larger renewable energy facilities such as solar arrays, biogas plants, and district heat networks, often in cooperation with municipalities and local companies. However, times have become difficult for energy cooperatives. The decline of wind energy in Germany in particular is giving them a hard time. New business fields have yet to be developed.

This paper was written for the LECo (Local Energy Communities) project funded by the Interreg Northern Periphery and Arctic Programme of the EU. See the project website localenergycommunities.net for further information.

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