The goal of DIALOGUES was to support the objectives of the Energy Union through operational research on ‘energy citizenship,’ enabling citizens to play a central role in adopting low-carbon energy solutions and linking four strategic priorities: decarbonizing buildings, renewables uptake, energy storage, and sustainable mobility. To reach this goal, DIALOGUES aimed to operationalize, contextualize, measure, and support environments, policies, and institutions that foster deep, inclusive energy citizenship. This involved elaborating knowledge needed for targeted policymaking to strengthen energy citizenship as a contributor to the sustainable energy transition. Rather than focusing on specific behavioral changes or new technologies, the project recognized that transformative energy system changes must become embedded in daily decisions. Citizens evaluated trade-offs between competing goals and co-benefits, making it important for citizen-driven innovation, investment, lifestyle changes, and collective action to manifest in various contexts, from household to supra-national levels. DIALOGUES achieved these overall goals by achieving its nine key objectives:
• Developed an inter- and trans-disciplinary definition of ‘energy citizenship’ and DIALOGUES’ common research agenda.
• Co-created a functional indicator for the degree and mode of energy citizenship.
• Encompassed various strategic priorities and topical areas of citizen engagement under the unifying concept of energy citizenship, including mapping probable pathways and the life-cycle timing between modes of engagement.
• Analyzed if energy citizenship was more likely to emerge locally, or at regional, national, or supranational levels, and for what reasons.
• Compared the relative importance of internal social processes and external factors to energy citizenship.
• Explored the impact of digitalization on energy citizenship.
• Engaged citizens in co-creating the way towards deeper, inclusive energy citizenship.
• Made energy citizenship an understandable and useful concept for policymakers and central actors at all levels.
• Kept the focus on inclusive and energy-just concepts of energy citizenship, respecting the role of gender, socio-cultural norms/regulations, socio-economic status, geographic location, and group dynamics in shaping a person’s place in, and preferences for, the future energy system.
DIALOGUES developed a comprehensive, interdisciplinary definition of 'energy citizenship,' forming the foundation for the project's research. The project co-created functional indicators to measure energy citizenship across various strategic priorities and thematic areas. By analyzing different levels (local to supranational), DIALOGUES enhanced understanding of how collective and individual actions influence energy transitions. The project emphasized inclusivity and equity, integrating gender, socio-economic status, and geographical considerations, ensuring diverse perspectives and equitable participation in energy initiatives. It also explored digitalization's impact on energy citizenship using netnographic methods to study social media and digital tool influences on citizen engagement. Citizen Action Labs in eight countries provided innovative spaces for collaboration, promoting deeper and more inclusive energy citizenship practices. DIALOGUES bridged the gap between research and policy by developing practical tools and recommendations for policymakers. The project's interdisciplinary, inclusive approach, and focus on practical outcomes have empowered citizens, provided valuable insights, and enhanced the role of energy citizenship in the sustainable energy transition.
