The Social Economist Season 3 concludes with a third mini-series on the topic of energy! Europe’s energy transition and what it means for both businesses’ competitiveness and Europe’s strategic autonomy is more important than ever. Is this an area where the social economy and social enterprise business models perhaps have a competitive advantage? Join us for this three episode mini-series to hear more on this critical topic. 

In this eighth and final episode of Season 3, our third mini-series concludes! Host Toby Gazeley from Euclid Network is joined by Chris Vrettos from REScoop to discuss their work supporting energy cooperatives and communities across Europe. REScoop is the European network for energy cooperatives and communities, representing a vital group of organisations from the social economy at a crucial time in Europe’s energy transition. 

Chris and Toby delve into the ‘state of the art’ on Europe’s energy cooperatives and communities. Their conversation ranges from the practical questions about ‘how’ one starts or gets involved in an energy cooperative to the overarching European policy landscape and some recommendations for policy makers. Energy cooperatives - enabling local energy production, consumption and ownership - may be a key element of Europe’s energy transition that enables enterprises to be more competitive, citizens to be more resilient and to enable Europe’s energy independence. This conversation and the optimism it highlights for both a sustainable European energy future and the role of the social economy in enabling this as the perfect way to conclude season three of The Social Economist. 

Instead of recommending a podcast, Chris recommended a book (perhaps next time we’ll consider a written interview for Chris). Nonetheless, he recommended How to Blow up a Pipeline - a very appropriate book relating to Europe’s energy transition. Toby, of course, couldn’t help but recommend another podcast: Dish, a feel good podcast where some familiar faces are interviewed over some tasty sounding meals. 

Please do get in touch to [email protected] with questions and comments. 

A special thanks to our producer Jan Kiszowara and the European Commission for making The Social Economist possible. 

Our theme music is ‘another twelve’ by Mikel Patrick Avery at Music for Podcasts.