Towards a toolkit for harnessing policy networks for encouraging SIE in Europe

SONNET (Social Innovation in Energy Transitions) aims to co-create a rich understanding of the diversity, processes, contributions, successes and future potentials of social innovation in the energy sector (SIE). This deliverable addresses SONNET’s objective 2, namely, to identify and analyse socio-political enabling and impeding factors for SIE processes, as well as SONNET's objective 5 – the design of socio-political strategies for encouraging SIE. It provides the conceptual framework and the methodological approach for policy networks as well as the qualitative and quantitative analysis of policy networks in six SONNET cities.

In SONNET's task T2.2 we aim to identify for each of our six SONNET cities the policy network in which SIE-initiatives are embedded. A policy network analysis is conducted with a particular focus on the relations between key actors at the local, regional, national and EU level (e.g. policymakers, city administrations, energy utilities, businesses and network organisations), and to identify enabling and impeding structures for SIE-initiatives.