Energy
4 case studies
Community energy systems demonstrate how citizen ownership can decouple energy provision from utility profit cycles while building local capacity and regenerating community wealth.
Theory Connection: Energy cooperatives show PSC applied to infrastructure with high AoE scores—member ownership creates identity coupling, dividends create future-cycle access, and democratic control creates friction against extraction.
Grameen Shakti
Grameen Shakti, a sister organisation of Grameen Bank, has brought solar electricity to over 2 million off-grid homes in Bangladesh. The regenerative element: they train local technicians (especially women) who maintain systems and train others. Knowledge and capability cycles through communities. The model proves that energy access can be achieved through distributed ownership and local capability building rather than grid extension.
- 2M+ solar home systems installed
- Local technician training program
- Women prioritised as technicians
Itaipu Binacional
Itaipu is the world's second-largest hydroelectric dam, jointly owned by Brazil and Paraguay on the Paraná River. It generates ~90% of Paraguay's electricity and ~15% of Brazil's. The binational governance model is remarkable: costs and output split 50/50, with Paraguay selling surplus to Brazil at cost. However, construction displaced 10,000 families and flooded 1,500 km² including the massive Guaíra Falls. It demonstrates that large-scale shared infrastructure is possible, but raises questions about whose interests align and who bears costs.
- World's second-largest hydro dam
- 50/50 Brazil-Paraguay ownership
- 90% of Paraguay's electricity
Middelgrunden Wind Cooperative
Middelgrunden is the world's largest cooperatively-owned offshore wind farm. Located 3.5km from Copenhagen harbour, its 20 turbines are half-owned by 10,000 cooperative members and half by the municipal utility. The cooperative structure decouples energy from utility profit extraction—returns flow to members and community rather than shareholders. Revenue regenerates through reinvestment in maintenance and member dividends.
- 10,000 cooperative members
- 50% cooperative, 50% municipal utility
- Visible from Copenhagen harbour
Rural Electric Cooperatives
When investor-owned utilities refused to serve rural America in the 1930s (not profitable enough), the federal government helped create member-owned cooperatives. Today, 900+ electric cooperatives serve 42 million Americans across 56% of the US landmass. Members are owners—they elect boards, share surplus revenue, and can't be bought out. The system has provided reliable rural electricity for 89 years.
- 900+ cooperatives nationwide
- 42 million member-owners
- 56% of US landmass