Unlocking the Power of Collective Action -The role of latent networks in mainstreaming solar PV practices

By Katharina Reindl.

A new research article examines the role of latent networks in mainstreaming solar PV practices in Germany: ”From shadows to light: The role of latent networks in mainstreaming solar PV practices” is a new article my colleagues Eva Heiskanen, Salvatore Ruggiero and I wrote together. You can find the full article here.

“We are like tenant farmers chopping down the fence around our house for fuel when we should be using Natures inexhaustible sources of energy – sun, wind and tide. … I’d put my money on the sun and solar energy.” Thomas Edison

When it comes to adopting more renewable and sustainable energy, the journey towards greener practices is not just a technological challenge but also a societal one. We did a systematic literature study to focus on how collective actions have shaped the mainstreaming of residential photovoltaic (PV) systems in Germany. We address firstly, the significance of latent networks, and secondly, the evolution from heterotelic to autotelic motivations regarding PV adoption.

Collective action in the context of energy transitions includes various forms, namely formal strategies by organizations, grassroots movements, and even uncoordinated actions by people sharing common activities.

Unlike individualist consumer behaviour theories, practice theories address embodied habits, shared knowledge, meanings and engagements, and materials and technologies that together enable and limit daily consumption patterns. Practice theory has often highlighted the inherent value of practices (autotelic nature). The transition of innovations like PV adoption from goal-oriented origins to routine practices (from heterotelic to autotelic) presented an intriguing area of research for us.

We focus on how collective actions have shaped the mainstreaming of residential photovoltaic (PV) systems in Germany. Why did we choose Germany as our case? The country has been a pioneer in adopting solar energy through for instance supportive policies, making it a valuable model for understanding the dynamics of PV adoption. In Germany, the adoption of PV systems went through different stages. Initially, in the 1980s there were mainly utility test sites, but this changed then in the 1990s towards significant investment by private households. It diversified further in the 2000s with farmers and institutional investors. In the 2010s, the final stage there was a policy shift to lowered feed-in tariffs and encouraged self-consumption and storage of solar power. This was done to mitigate rising costs and grid congestion issues. PVs achieved “grid parity”, meaning they could generate electricity at costs comparable to standard residential electricity prices.

One key finding was the importance of latent and multi-actor networks. We looked at the role of latent and multi-actor networks and showed the significance of latent networks, such as homeowners and local businesses, in the diffusion process. These networks, which often operate without a coordinated agenda, played a crucial role in spreading sustainable practices. Moreover, multi-actor networks, including various stakeholders like solar organizations and local companies, were pivotal in fostering a supportive environment for PV adoption.

Another key finding concerns the transition from heterotelic to autotelic actions. In our study we found that initial adoption drivers were often heterotelic, meaning that they were motivated by goals like environmental concerns. However, as PV systems became more mainstream, these drivers shifted towards autotelic motivations. This means that the practice of using PVs became normalized and an end in itself.

How you get from grassroots movements to widespread market adoption is a complex question. In our research, we show that grassroots innovations often struggle to alter the dominant system, partly due to their reluctance to prioritize market growth over ideological goals. However, in our study, we suggest that the challenge isn’t about ideology vs. market demands. Instead, it is about the innovation evolving from goal-oriented (heterotelic) approaches to more intrinsic (autotelic) ones for broader adoption, becoming a goal in itself. This shift might be a key to broader success in the world of grassroots innovation.

Germany’s experience with residential PV system adoption provides useful insights into the role of collective action in mainstreaming sustainable energy practices. The approach taken in our study provides valuable perspectives on collective action in different contexts related to sustainability transitions and lessons can be drawn for global sustainability efforts.