Social Entrepreneurship as a Network Bridge to Tackle Energy Poverty

M.J. Manjón

In the book Energy Entrepreneurship, Sustainability, Innovation and Financing: Practical Applications and Future Directions

Springer Nature Switzerland AG, Cham, Switzerland

Summary

This chapter focuses on the territory of social entrepreneurship in Europe’s energy poverty context. There is increasing interest in social entrepreneurship within the domain of energy social sciences to provide partial solutions to address energy poverty. The institution of social entrepreneurship, with its diverse forms and specific purposes, integrates multiple logics. This hybrid nature makes it a productive space for developing responses to energy vulnerability from the necessary multiplicity of perspectives required by the complexity of the problem. This complex nature of the energy poverty network invites us to focus on the collective dimension of social entrepreneurship. This work aims to enrich our understanding of the mechanisms at play in the energy poverty network through social entrepreneurship. For this purpose, a qualitative analysis from a phenomenology approach captures the experiences gained by European social entrepreneurs within the network of energy poverty actors. Our results show the diversity of hybrid experiences in social entrepreneurship, emphasising the “bridging” focus on connection and the relevant implications for facilitating a synergistic activity of all actors in the network that contributes to accelerating the just energy transition. The discussion contributes to the more consolidated literature on social entrepreneurship through their experience building cohesion in significant social challenges, for which the multi-actor perspective is fundamental. We also present policy recommendations to facilitate venues for raising new voices to gain network cohesion through the coordination of social entrepreneurs.

Spanish layman's summary:

Este libro presenta aplicaciones emprendedoras en el sector energético, seguidas de un análisis de los diversos impactos sostenibles que genera este sector. Las contribuciones de un grupo de investigadoresde distintos ámbitos examinan cómo las instituciones y las políticas afectan el proceso de innovación dentro del sector energético. Está dirigido a académicos en áreas como gestión, emprendimiento, economía, finanzas e investigación operativa, así como a profesionales que trabajan en el sector energético. 

 

English layman's summary:

This book presents entrepreneurial applications in the energy sector, followed by an analysis of the various sustainable impacts generated by this industry. Contributions from a group of researchers from different fields examine how institutions and policies influence the innovation process within the energy sector. The book is intended for scholars in fields such as management, entrepreneurship, economics, finance, and operations research, as well as professionals working in the energy industry.

Editors: K.B. Atici, et al.

ISBN: 978-3-031-80000-9

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-80001-6_5

DOI of the book: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-80001-6

Published: 2025

Citation:
M.J. Manjón, "Social Entrepreneurship as a Network Bridge to Tackle Energy Poverty", in Energy Entrepreneurship, Sustainability, Innovation and Financing: Practical Applications and Future Directions, K.B. Atici, et al. Ed(s). Cham, Switzerland: Ed. Springer Nature Switzerland AG, 2025, pp. 73-94, doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-80001-6_5

IIT-25-196L