EC² gathered empirical evidence on how the set-up of energy communities fosters or hinders energy citizenship.

Based on an inter- and transdisciplinary conceptualization of energy citizenship, EC^² deliberated economic trends, identified economic conditions, business model innovations, public support policies and legal regulations that are needed for the emergence of energy citizenship and its potential contribution to the low-carbon energy transition. EC² focused in particular on energy communities as emerging entities within the energy sector and as potential key actors to promote energy citizenship.  

The objective was to gather empirical evidence on how the framework and the set-up of energy communities foster or hinder energy citizenship and its conduciveness for broader policy goals and under which circumstances energy communities and energy citizens benefit most from each other. To this end, EC² developed a scale to quantitatively assess the psychological manifestation of energy citizenship within individuals. The team studied the complex relationships between the legal frameworks, the economic structures, and the psychological set-ups of energy communities and their surrounding societies, on the one hand, and energy citizenship, on the other. To identify causal relationships, EC² conducted experimental lab studies, in addition to broader field studies. Based on these insights, the team developed and empirically tested recommendations and tools to overcome barriers and facilitate the scaling up of energy citizenship and energy communities.

Team:

• Dr. Judith Feichtinger (project leader)
• Magª. Maria Schrammel (project leader)
• Magª. Dr. Elisabeth Unterfrauner (project leader)
• Dr. Daniela Fuchs
• Mag. Wolfgang Michalek

Section: Technology and Knowledge

Partners:

• Arterra Bizimodu
• Buurkracht Projecten B.V.
• Comune di Scalenghe
• Global Ecovillage Network of Europe
• Gmina Prusice
• Housing Cooperative Wrocław South
• ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability
• Municipality of Groningen
• Ture Nirvane Societa’ Cooperativa Sociale di Comunita’
• University of Graz
• University of Groningen
• University of Leipzig
• Uniwersytet Ekonomiczny we Wrocławiu

Tags: energy, energy citizenship, energy community, energy transition