Periodic Reporting for period 2 - EC2 (Energy Citizenship and Energy Communities for a Clean Energy Transition)
Période du rapport: 2022-11-01 au 2024-04-30
Based on an inter- and transdisciplinary conceptualization of energy citizenship, EC² 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. The knowledge generated in the EC2 project offers useful insights into how the citizen-led clean energy transition that is so clearly needed can be made a reality.
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. The knowledge generated in the EC2 project offers useful insights into how the citizen-led clean energy transition that is so clearly needed can be made a reality.
Within WP1 the management of the project was organised. ZSI as WP1 lead organised regular calls as well as seven general assembly meetings. Additionally, from the very beginning of the project ZSI made sure that RRI issues were addressed throughout the project.
In WP2, we constructed an inter- and transdisciplinary definition of energy citizenship. While the interdisciplinary definition was based on discourse between our scholarly legal, economic and psychological partners (Uni Graz, ULEI, WUEB, UG), the transdisciplinary definition emerged in exchange with practice partners (ICLEI, GEN Europe, ZSI) and in co-creation workshops with stakeholders. A main output of WP2 is the energy citizenship scale, which was translated in five languages.
In WP3, the research team analysed and gained knowledge on the legal and economic market conditions shaping energy communities in 6 different European countries. Additionally, four knowledge co-creation workshops took place (NL, PL, ES, IT). The synthesis of the results is provided in D3.3.
In WP4, longitudinal field studies collected survey data among 3902 members and non-members of energy communities within 21 countries and experimental scenario studies included over 10,000 participants. The studies gained empirical evidence for barriers and facilitators of energy communities and energy citizenship and how different set-ups of energy communities affect the perceptions of and willingness to join energy communities.
In WP5, eight co-creation workshop were conducted in four regions resulting in a co-created comprehensive handbook for public administrations to planning a website that promotes and supports energy communities. The handbook offers a clear structure for a website to provide valuable information and resources for individuals interested in energy communities, whether they want to join an existing one or create their own.
WP6’s activities resulted in six policy briefs offering comprehensive, research-based recommendations for facilitating and accelerating the transition at every level, from the EU to national and local contexts, with additional focus on a just transition in coal regions and policies for inclusive and motivated energy communities, based on insights from psychological studies. Also the Energy Citizenship Academy was implemented in WP6, an online training programme that equipped public administrators, leaders and members of energy communities, researchers, and NGOs with evidence-based knowledge, practical tools, and networking opportunities for people-centric energy transition.
WP7 set up and maintained everything needed for dissemination and communication throughout the project. A dissemination, communication and exploitation plan was created, the website went online in M2, and WP7 team continuously fed the social media accounts with news, lists for communication and dissemination activities, EC2 was represented at conferences, and dissemination materials were provided. Six open days and a online twinning programme was also implemented in WP7. The former aimed at helping citizens to become more engaged in energy issues. The international twinning programme linked EC² practice partners with new and aspiring energy communities to offer mentoring.
Within WP8 and WP9 H1-requirements and POPD2-requirements and ethics certificates were elaborated, agreed, and provided.
In WP2, we constructed an inter- and transdisciplinary definition of energy citizenship. While the interdisciplinary definition was based on discourse between our scholarly legal, economic and psychological partners (Uni Graz, ULEI, WUEB, UG), the transdisciplinary definition emerged in exchange with practice partners (ICLEI, GEN Europe, ZSI) and in co-creation workshops with stakeholders. A main output of WP2 is the energy citizenship scale, which was translated in five languages.
In WP3, the research team analysed and gained knowledge on the legal and economic market conditions shaping energy communities in 6 different European countries. Additionally, four knowledge co-creation workshops took place (NL, PL, ES, IT). The synthesis of the results is provided in D3.3.
In WP4, longitudinal field studies collected survey data among 3902 members and non-members of energy communities within 21 countries and experimental scenario studies included over 10,000 participants. The studies gained empirical evidence for barriers and facilitators of energy communities and energy citizenship and how different set-ups of energy communities affect the perceptions of and willingness to join energy communities.
In WP5, eight co-creation workshop were conducted in four regions resulting in a co-created comprehensive handbook for public administrations to planning a website that promotes and supports energy communities. The handbook offers a clear structure for a website to provide valuable information and resources for individuals interested in energy communities, whether they want to join an existing one or create their own.
WP6’s activities resulted in six policy briefs offering comprehensive, research-based recommendations for facilitating and accelerating the transition at every level, from the EU to national and local contexts, with additional focus on a just transition in coal regions and policies for inclusive and motivated energy communities, based on insights from psychological studies. Also the Energy Citizenship Academy was implemented in WP6, an online training programme that equipped public administrators, leaders and members of energy communities, researchers, and NGOs with evidence-based knowledge, practical tools, and networking opportunities for people-centric energy transition.
WP7 set up and maintained everything needed for dissemination and communication throughout the project. A dissemination, communication and exploitation plan was created, the website went online in M2, and WP7 team continuously fed the social media accounts with news, lists for communication and dissemination activities, EC2 was represented at conferences, and dissemination materials were provided. Six open days and a online twinning programme was also implemented in WP7. The former aimed at helping citizens to become more engaged in energy issues. The international twinning programme linked EC² practice partners with new and aspiring energy communities to offer mentoring.
Within WP8 and WP9 H1-requirements and POPD2-requirements and ethics certificates were elaborated, agreed, and provided.
EC2 conceptualized an inter- and transdisciplinary definition of energy citizenship.
EC2 developed a quantitative assessment of energy citizenship within the individuum (energy citizenship scale)
EC2 concentrated on energy communities as a relevant social group for energy citizenship. Analysing the relationship between energy communities and energy citizenship, connects the theoretical concept of energy citizenship with a concrete and dynamic development within the energy sector.
EC2 moved beyond an analysis of the legal framework of Energy Communities (within the Clean Energy Packages) by incorporating the analysis of the housing and consumer protection framework.
EC2 overcame the omnipresent narrative of a neoliberal market and analysed the situation for energy citizens and energy communities from an alternative economic/market perspective.
EC2 combined in a unique fashion the legal, economic, and psychological perspective on energy citizenship and energy communities to identify barriers and facilitators of energy citizenship and energy communities together with energy community members and stakeholders of the energy sector.
The controlled experiments to provide empirical evidence for causal factors determining the emergence of energy citizenship, the willingness to join energy communities, and the intention to support a clean energy transition or broader policy goals are underway.
EC2 co-created a handbook for existing and emerging energy communities in different EU countries to overcome barriers and to exploit facilitators of energy citizenship.
EC2 enhanced tools and provided practical advice by creating an empowerment kit and a set of policy briefs.
EC2 integrated these tools in a series of webinars (the Energy Citizenship Academy, twinning programme) to establish a digital training program for interested citizens, cooperatives, authorities, and policymakers.
EC2 developed a quantitative assessment of energy citizenship within the individuum (energy citizenship scale)
EC2 concentrated on energy communities as a relevant social group for energy citizenship. Analysing the relationship between energy communities and energy citizenship, connects the theoretical concept of energy citizenship with a concrete and dynamic development within the energy sector.
EC2 moved beyond an analysis of the legal framework of Energy Communities (within the Clean Energy Packages) by incorporating the analysis of the housing and consumer protection framework.
EC2 overcame the omnipresent narrative of a neoliberal market and analysed the situation for energy citizens and energy communities from an alternative economic/market perspective.
EC2 combined in a unique fashion the legal, economic, and psychological perspective on energy citizenship and energy communities to identify barriers and facilitators of energy citizenship and energy communities together with energy community members and stakeholders of the energy sector.
The controlled experiments to provide empirical evidence for causal factors determining the emergence of energy citizenship, the willingness to join energy communities, and the intention to support a clean energy transition or broader policy goals are underway.
EC2 co-created a handbook for existing and emerging energy communities in different EU countries to overcome barriers and to exploit facilitators of energy citizenship.
EC2 enhanced tools and provided practical advice by creating an empowerment kit and a set of policy briefs.
EC2 integrated these tools in a series of webinars (the Energy Citizenship Academy, twinning programme) to establish a digital training program for interested citizens, cooperatives, authorities, and policymakers.