Sophie Loots is with ZuidtrAnt partner of DeeldeZon & Guest Speaker. Sophie Loots will tell us about ZuidtrAnt, a young energy cooperative in Belgium and how citizen participation can lift innovation. In Belgium, the energy cooperatives are larger and geographically more widespread than in the Netherlands. With citizen participation the cooperative invests in solar panels on public roofs. It gives small governments the possibility to install solar panels without investing themselves.
Interesting conclusion of this is that other innovation is almost a natural follow-up. There is a common ground for it under both government and citizens. Smart charging and car sharing appear to be relatively small steps after the installment of communal solar panels. This shows that cooperatives can make V2X and car sharing a more holistic and democratic proces. What can we learn from the Flemmish Cooperatives? And would this be applicable in other countries?