Social innovations are transformative responses to systemic challenges, fostering inclusive solutions to pressing societal needs. In the context of energy transitions, social innovations such as energy communities or energy collective action initiatives (ECAIs) play a critical role in advancing environmental sustainability and societal cohesion. While existing research offers valuable insights into the nature and dynamics of ECAIs, it often focuses on micro-level analyses, overlooking the broader influence of macro-level factors, such as institutional contexts, economic structures, and social capital, on their emergence and scalability. To address this gap, our study investigates how macro-level elements—including social capital, institutional frameworks, and economic contexts—influence the establishment of ECAIs. By applying advanced fixed-effects regression models to a longitudinal multilevel dataset of approximately 10,000 ECAIs across 29 European countries from 1990 to 2021, our analysis reveals how these macro factors drive the development of ECAIs. Our findings emphasize the importance of institutional complementarities and adaptive policies in unlocking the potential of community-driven initiatives. These insights contribute to theoretical debates on social innovation and collective action, offering actionable guidance for policymakers and practitioners navigating the complexities of energy transitions for environmental sustainability.
