Local civil society based renewable energy organisations in the Netherlands: Exploring the factors that stimulate their emergence and development

•The number of local renewable energy organisations in the Netherlands is increasing.•Local renewable energy organisations originate from all spheres of society.•Four steps can be discerned in the founding process of a local renewable energy organisation.•Several factors positively influence each of the steps.•Organisational characteristics are vital for getting local support.•Governments can facilitate the development of local renewable energy organisations.

In order to alleviate urgent and pressing environmental issues, a transition towards decentralised production and consumption of renewable energy is necessary. The establishment of local renewable energy organisations (LREO) can stimulate this transition. In the recent past the number of LREOs has grown substantially in the Netherlands. However, due to their recent emergence little is known about the factors that stimulate or hamper their appearance and development. This research addresses this knowledge gap. Based on a literature review and five expert interviews, explanatory variables that might determine the emergence and development of LREOs were identified. Second, a first assessment of the factors that stimulate the emergence and development of 26 Dutch LREOs is made. Face-to-face interviews as well as an online questionnaire were used to validate this assessment. We conclude this paper with some recommendations for policy makers and LREOs.