Energy Research & Social Science 6 (2015) 128–135 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Energy Research & Social Science journal h om epage: www.elsevier.com/locate/erss Original research article Bioenergy as a socio-technical system: The nexus of rules, social capital and cooperation in the development of bioenergy villages in Germany Carlotta von Bock und Polach a,b,∗ , Conrad Kunze c,d , Oliver Maaß a,b , Philipp Grundmann a,b a Leibniz-Institute for Agricultural Engineering Potsdam-Bornim e.V., Technology Assessment and Substance Cycles, Max-Eyth-Allee 100, 14469 Potsdam, Germany b Humboldt-University of Berlin, Department of Agricultural Economics, Division of Resource Economics, Philippstraße 13, 10099 Berlin, Germany c University of Freiburg, Institute for Environmental Social Science and Geography, Chair Environmental Governance, Tennenbacherstr. 4, 79106 Freiburg, Germany d Helmholtz Association, Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ, Department of Urban and Environmental Sociology, Permoserstraße 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany a r t i c l e i n f o Article history: Received 15 July 2014 Received in revised form 11 February 2015 Accepted 12 February 2015 Available online 5 March 2015 Keywords: Bioenergy Nexus Social capital Cooperation Rural community a b s t r a c t Social resources are assumed to play an important role in the implementation of community renewable energy as a socio-technical system in Germany. The impact of social resources on the dynamics of com- munity renewable energy has not been well understood until now. Given the importance of adapting to current and upcoming changes in the regulatory framework for renewable energy production, there is a need for a better understanding of the role of social resources in the process of sustaining community renewable energy production. Based on two case studies of bioenergy villages in the German Federal State of Brandenburg, we elucidate the nexus and impact of social capital, rules and cooperation in the development of community renewable energy. Promoting social capital that results in a balance between leadership and collective action, trust among all actors based on transparency, almost complete access to relevant information, involvement in social activities, and a consistent network of bonding and bridging ties, may contribute to the sustained development of community renewable energy. © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. 1. Introduction The substantial change in energy policy in Germany in 2010 was part of a political and social process that began in the year 2000 with the implementation of Renewable Energy Act (EEG). The act aims to foster the replacement of non-renewable and fossil- based energy sources with renewables. The “energy transition” (Energiewende) has facilitated the development of innovative busi- ness models: e.g. decentralised biomass-based energy systems in the countryside. Different terms like “energy self-sufficient village” or “bioenergy villages” have become popular labels. Bioenergy vil- lages in Germany are a model for international initiatives [1]. In ∗ Corresponding author at: Humboldt-University of Berlin, Department of Agri- cultural Economics, Division of Resource Economics, Philippstraße 13, 10099 Berlin, Germany. Tel.: +49 030 209346360. E-mail address: carlotta.v.bock@gmail.com (C. von Bock und Polach). this study, we focus on biomass-based bioenergy as one branch of renewable energy and its particular form of bioenergy villages in Germany. By definition, a bioenergy-village can satisfy all of its electricity demand and at least half of its heating demand with locally produced biomass [2]. Furthermore, at least 50% of the pro- duction facilities should be owned by the farmers supplying the biomass and the household consumers connected to the heating grid [2]. Renewable energy based on decentralised energy supply is gen- erally acknowledged to create new employment opportunities, increase the capacity for and acceptance of further economic and social activities [3], generate added value [4] and thereby have a significant influence on rural economies [5]. Due to the pos- sibility of creating added value for rural areas [4,6,7], the local supply and consumption of renewable energy is of great interest to local authorities. On the other hand, problems may arise, such as rural residents’ acceptance of externalities (e.g. odour and noise emissions, etc.); uncertainty caused by frequent changes in the http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2015.02.003 2214-6296/© 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.