From the “just transition” to the “trust transition”: rethinking justice in community energy projects

While there has been much interest in community energy (CE) within policy and academia, political interest and support have fluctuated in most European countries, depending on the political orientation of incumbent governments. To investigate some of the broader social benefits of CE, this paper uses insights from energy justice (EJ) research and empirical data from 12 semi-structured interviews with CE professionals, academics and volunteers in the UK. Three key benefits of CE are identified which have not been fully explored in existing literature, all of which are linked by the overarching concept of trust. Firstly, CE organisations often serve as “trusted intermediaries”, offering trusted advice and support. Secondly, CE organisations were found to be well placed to engage with marginalised communities by building trust and offering energy poverty alleviation support. Thirdly, through trust, CE organisations can enhance linking social capital, providing a connection between local people and those in positions of authority. Overall, this paper advances theoretical understandings of EJ by identifying “informational justice” as a fourth tenet of EJ, distinct from distributional, procedural and recognitional forms of justice. More specifically, it identifies the provision of trusted information as foundational to achieving EJ, which has been underacknowledged in the literature. It concludes with suggestions for how CE initiatives can better engage with marginalised communities to avoid perpetuating socio-economic inequalities and broaden political support. Three key recommendations are identified: implementing a genuinely community-centred approach, embedding inclusive organisational practices, and creating diverse and accessible opportunities for engagement.