The Energy Commons and Commoning: Collective Action in Energy Transitions

Publication date

2026

Authors

Fouladvand, JavanshirORCID 0000-0002-6704-4046ISNI 0000000521080959
Bauwens, Thomas
Ghorbani, Amineh

Editors

Advisors

Supervisors

Document Type

Editorial
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License

cc_by

Abstract

This editorial introduces the Collection on “Energy Commons: Collective Action for Sustainable Energy” examining energy commons as alternatives to market-based energy systems. Through three empirical contributions, it explores how energy commoning practices navigate five fundamental paradoxes: inclusion versus exclusion, Western frameworks versus pluriversal approaches, local autonomy versus global coordination, narrow focus versus whole value chains, and anti-capitalist ideals versus market realities. The Collection demonstrates these tensions as productive forces driving innovation in energy governance.

Keywords

energy communities, energy governance, Energy Policy, energy system, energy transition, local energy system, renewable energy, sustainability transition, Sociology and Political Science, SDG 7 - Affordable and Clean Energy

Citation

Fouladvand, J, Bauwens, T & Ghorbani, A 2026, 'The Energy Commons and Commoning : Collective Action in Energy Transitions', International Journal of the Commons, vol. 20, no. 1, pp. 90-95. https://doi.org/10.5334/ijc.1681