The influence of social capital on community participation in the energy transition

This doctoral thesis investigates the social and individual processes that shape community participation in the energy retrofitting of historic buildings, with a focus on the role of immaterial resources and sustainable interventions. Central to this exploration is the concept of social capital—analyzed through its structural, cognitive, and relational dimensions—to understand how local actors engage in energy transition initiatives, especially in rural contexts. The research aims to fill a critical gap in the literature by integrating innovative methods and offering a multidimensional understanding of participation dynamics. The first paper provides a systematic literature review of 90 peer-reviewed articles published between 2001 and 2021, offering a comprehensive overview of how social capital has been studied in relation to the energy transition. The review reveals that, while structural and relational dimensions are relatively well explored, the cognitive dimension remains underrepresented. Furthermore, the analysis identifies definitional inconsistencies, methodological limitations, and emerging opportunities for future research. Updated with contributions from 2022 to 2024, the study emphasizes that social capital should be seen not as a by-product but as a central driver of successful energy transitions. It also highlights the role of shared knowledge, values, and local priorities in enabling inclusive and resilient energy systems. The second paper focuses on the cognitive dimension of social capital by examining a case study in Valstagna (Italy), part of the Interreg Austria-Italy SHELTER project. Here, the retrofitting of a former tobacco factory into a community resource serves as a lens to understand how place attachment and collective memory influence participation. Using a mixed-methods approach—including interviews, questionnaires, and participatory observation—the study demonstrates that strong emotional ties to place and clearly defined community priorities significantly enhance engagement in sustainability initiatives. Drawing on Devine-Wright’s stages of place-based psychological response, the research reframes energy retrofitting as not only a technical process but also a transformative act of community identity formation. The third paper addresses the intersection of innovation and rural development. It examines how energy retrofitting can serve as both a technical and social innovation in sparsely populated areas. The case study of Col Ventidueore explores how innovative tools—such as autologistic actor attribute models—can uncover the role of social networks in shaping participatory behavior. Although not the theoretical core of the thesis, this methodological contribution highlights how collective patterns, rather than individual characteristics, determine participation in energy initiatives. The study emphasizes the importance of leveraging existing social networks to foster inclusive and strategic engagement, ultimately linking energy efficiency goals with broader socioeconomic regeneration. The research adopts a bottom-up, inductive methodology, combining case study analysis with qualitative and quantitative tools. While the sample size is limited, the approach provides rich insights into community dynamics, particularly the challenges of mapping social networks and identifying non-participants. Overall, the thesis argues that energy transition processes present a valuable opportunity to generate and implement social capital in local communities. It calls for future research that investigates not only participation but also the characteristics and constraints of those who remain disengaged, with the goal of promoting a more equitable and cohesive energy future.