Equal Opportunities in the Energy Transition

Funded by:

Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (German)

University competition organized by:

Wissenschaft im Dialog in cooperation with the Federal Association of University Communication, the German Rectors' Conference and the Junge Akademie (German)

Information About the Project

The objective of the project is to facilitate the inclusion of low-income households in the energy transition and to enhance societal acceptance of related measures. Although technologies such as balcony photovoltaic systems and dynamic electricity tariffs offer considerable potential, these households are frequently excluded due to economic constraints, regulatory complexities, or communication barriers. Existing comparison platforms and information services, such as stromspiegel.de, are often too complex or insufficiently tailored to the needs of this demographic. The project seeks to address this gap by developing an interactive online tool that employs empirically grounded, dialogue-based formats to engage with the specific circumstances and requirements of low-income households.

The project is structured around three key components:

1. Empirical Needs Assessment: The initial phase involves an online survey of citizens and interviews with key stakeholders from practice, municipal administration, and civil society. This stage aims to identify the informational needs, decision-making preferences, and structural or communicative barriers faced by low-income households in selecting electricity tariffs.
2. Participatory Prototyping: In the second phase, a participatory workshop will be conducted with citizens to evaluate different forms of user engagement – specifically scenario-based, fact-oriented, and problem-centred approaches. The objective is to determine which communicative strategies are most effective in fostering understanding and agency among the target group.
3. Iterative Tool Development: Based on the insights gained, an interactive online tool will be developed in close collaboration with domain experts. The tool will serve as the project’s central communication platform, designed to inform low-income households about changes in electricity tariffs and to support them in making autonomous, informed decisions about their energy use.

Press Reports:

FernUni-Projekt gewinnt bei Hochschulwettbewerb 2025 (25.02.2025, German)