The network effect pattern “peer and community effect” highlights the fact that innovations not only spread through their pure functionality and cost benefits. Social processes play an important role in the innovation diffusion too. People tend to get inspired by their peers, seeing what they do and only for this reason evaluate a product differently. Belonging to a community can be a powerful feeling. An energy community can create a community feeling that awakens the desire to join this group of people. Network effects can cause a lock-in effect, where people enjoy the social benefits of the energy community and are reluctant to change to new/other solutions.

Implementation reference

• Socially influence citizens to invest in RES (Som Energia, Ecopower, Vandebron)
• Take care of planet with community (Comunidades Energeticas)
• Create a community feeling (Sonnen community)
• Peer effects through driving innovative EVs (Tesla)

Research reference

• Bollinger & Gilingham (2012) & Curtius et al (2018): Peer effects
• Zapata et al (2019) & Kalkbrenner and Roosen (2016): Community effects

This pattern belongs to the core area: Network Effects