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Energy transition for everyone?!

Future workshop “Bezahlbare Energie: Was wäre, wenn?“ in Hagen

On August 27, 2025, the future workshop “Bezahlbare Energie: Was wäre wenn?" (Affordable energy: What if?) took place at Wirrwarr in Hagen-Wehringhausen. Around 15 experts discussed fair and affordable energy supply in Hagen. The aim was to examine perspectives and solutions in more detail, particularly with regard to barriers to access and participation for low-income households. A special focus was placed on advisory and communication services as key tools for the inclusive implementation of the energy transition at the local level.

Utopias and approaches for greater participation in the energy transition

The concept for the future workshop was developed in collaboration with designer Rolf Brändle. In addition to house and city models, the speculative design method was used: guided by discussion prompts, criticism, utopias, and concrete solutions were developed on the models and with additional objects and materials. Participants' own ideas and perspectives were designed using wool threads, foam, and needles and placed on the model. This resulted in colorful and tangible future scenarios that invite a change of perspective and encourage creative ideas.

Foto: Rolf Brändle

Access is key!

The results show that access to and motivation for engaging with the topic of energy are key challenges. On the one hand, there is often a lack of differentiated and low-threshold information and advice services. On the other hand, the topic of energy often has negative connotations. Many people feel uncertain and powerless and prefer to avoid the topic. Digital offerings and personal advice can help to impart knowledge, enable participation, and promote motivation. This requires good concepts to effectively address and reach people: whether at school, in the neighborhood, or on smartphones, valuable practical approaches were developed as part of the Future Workshop.

What happens next?

The Future Workshop was carried out as part of the BMFTR-funded project “EnergiewendeKompass: Chancengleichheit in der Energiewende” (Energy Transition Compass: Equal Opportunities in the Energy Transition) in collaboration with the Hagen Sustainability Center as part of the “Klimapositives Wehringhausen” (Climate-Positive Wehringhausen) project.

The project “EnergiewendeKompass: Chancengleichheit in der Energiewende” is part of the university competition in the Science Year 2025 on the topic of “Zukunftsenergie” (Future Energy). The aim is to enable low-income households to participate more in the energy transition through specific communication and information services. To this end, an interactive tool is being developed in collaboration with citizens and local experts that provides target group-specific, low-threshold information on topics such as switching providers and saving energy, as well as practical assistance. The findings from the future workshop will be incorporated into the development of the advisory tool and serve as a starting point for the further development of the approach in the future.

Further Information

Instagram @hochschulwettbewerb

Project website “Chancengleichheit in der Energiewende”

Information about the university competition