Dilger M, Jovanovic T, Voigt KI (2017)
Publication Language: English
Publication Type: Journal article, Original article
Publication year: 2017
Book Volume: 198
Pages Range: 50-62
DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2017.04.025
Practice and theory have proven the relevance of energy co-operatives for civic participation in the energy turnaround. However, due to a still low awareness and changing regulation, there seems an unexploited potential of utilizing the legal form ‘co-operative’ in this context. The aim of this study is therefore to investigate the crowdfunding implementation in the business model of energy co-operatives in order to cope with the mentioned challenges. Based on a theoretical framework, we derive a Business Model Innovation (BMI) through crowdfunding including synergies and differences. A qualitative study design, particularly a multiple-case study of energy co-operatives, was chosen to prove the BMI and to reveal barriers. The results show that although most co-operatives are not familiar with crowdfunding, there is strong potential in opening up predominantly local structures to a broader group of members. Building on this, equity-based crowdfunding is revealed to be suitable for energy co-operatives as BMI and to accompany other challenges in the same way.
APA:
Dilger, M., Jovanovic, T., & Voigt, K.-I. (2017). Upcrowding energy co-operatives – Evaluating the potential of crowdfunding for business model innovation of energy co-operatives. Journal of Environmental Management, 198, 50-62. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2017.04.025
MLA:
Dilger, Mathias, Tanja Jovanovic, and Kai-Ingo Voigt. "Upcrowding energy co-operatives – Evaluating the potential of crowdfunding for business model innovation of energy co-operatives." Journal of Environmental Management 198 (2017): 50-62.
BibTeX: Download