Abstract
This chapter dives deeper into the mutual engagement of female prosumers and energy communities and the potential of the latter to contribute to a more just and inclusive energy transition. We link inequalities with the persisting gendered access to energy as identified in the academic debate of the gender-energy nexus. Injustices in the energy system are described using examples from the energy poverty debate. We identify how the National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs) of the 27 EU Member States address energy communities in their ability to cope with inequalities and injustices in energy systems. We argue that energy communities can contribute to a just energy transition that is inclusive but only if policy supports prosumers in this endeavour. However, the implementation of policy frameworks towards just energy transition still lags behind in the EU Member States, as our analysis of the NECPs demonstrates.
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Feenstra, M., Hanke, F. (2021). Creating an Enabling Policy Framework for Inclusive Energy Communities: A Gender Perspective. In: Coenen, F.H.J.M., Hoppe, T. (eds) Renewable Energy Communities and the Low Carbon Energy Transition in Europe. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-84440-0_9
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