Actors and Acceptance in the Transformation of the Energy System

In this business area, we research the social aspects of the energy transition. To this end, we analyse attitudes, decisions and actions of people in the transformation of the energy system.

We look at people not only as citizens, but also as political, economic and social actors with different diverse roles - for example as decision-makers, process designers, investors or those affected persons. We are interested in how interactions play out between people, groups, organisations and institutions take place and how they can be shaped in such a way that they contribute to a transformation of the energy system.

In doing so, we also work on questions concerning acceptance: How do people participate in the energy transformation? How can a just and inclusive energy transformation be designed? What social challenges do transformation processes entail in these contexts and fields of action?

The topics we work on include sustainable lifestyles and sufficiency, processes of change in industry, new business models and tariff structures, the perception and impact of climate policies, for example in the mobility sector. We look at technologies such as electromobility, alternative fuels, carbon capture and storage (CCS) and green hydrogen. We examine these technologies in terms of the interplay between actors and in relation to social dynamics as part of innovation and transition processes.

Coordinator of the Business Unit is Dr. Elisabeth Dütschke.