Adopting sustainable energy community projects in cooperatives as an investment strategy

Purpose This study analyzed the adoption of sustainable energy community projects by cooperatives in China, a context characterized by a centralized energy structure and limited participatory tradition, with implications for cooperative-based energy initiatives in Latin America and illustrative relevance for European contexts such as Spain. Design/methodology/approach A quantitative explanatory correlational design was applied in this study. A structured questionnaire was administered to 245 Chinese cooperatives from various sectors. The data were analyzed using partial least-squares structural equation modeling. Findings Perceived trust was the most influential predictor of the intent to adopt energy communities, followed by perceived risk and facilitating conditions. Technology decisions are conditioned by institutional structures and systemic trust mechanisms in cooperative contexts, offering relevant insights for cooperative contexts, such as those found in Latin America and institutionally heterogeneous European settings. Research limitations/implications This study was limited to China and used a cross-sectional design with self-reported data. Future research should consider longitudinal approaches and comparative studies to capture cultural and institutional variations in technology adoption. Practical implications The results underscore the importance of institutional trust, risk management and adequate facilitating conditions for promoting the adoption of energy communities in cooperatives. Originality/value A model combining UTAUT2 with risk and trust theories explains the adoption of sustainable energy community projects by cooperatives. Beyond China, this model provides a framework for understanding energy technology adoption in Latin American cooperatives and serves as a transferable reference for European cooperative energy initiatives operating under uneven regulatory and institutional conditions.