Climate change is a 'crisis multiplier' – a defining issue of our time. With so much at stake, the most efficient ways to consume energy are needed to facilitate the transition to a low-carbon energy future. For this, the engagement of citizens will be crucial. The EU-funded DIALOGUES project will support the Energy Union, which will help to provide secure, affordable and clean energy for EU citizens and businesses. 

Applying the latest research across multiple disciplines, DIALOGUES will explore the cultivation of energy citizenship from a variety of dimensions throughout the EU. The findings of the citizen-oriented energy research will improve the understanding of the drivers, barriers and potential of energy citizenship across the Energy Union.

Within this wider challenge of energy transition and climate neutrality, the concept of energy citizenship aligns with each of the EU’s four strategic objectives (decarbonising buildings, renewables uptake, energy storage, and sustainable mobility).

It encompasses the underlying need for the sustainable energy transition to be citizen-centric, with contributions in technology uptake, energy efficiency, innovation, digitalisation, storage/flexibility, renewable generation, equity, and social innovation being provided by the citizens.

DIALOGUES central methodological pillar is grounded in tested inter and transdisciplinary techniques, with a spotlight on open innovation and co-design of the research process through novel Citizen Action Lab in 8 countries.

Therefore, DIALOGUES will support the objectives of the Energy Union with operational research on the overarching topic of "energy citizenship" that enables citizens' central role in the uptake of low-carbon energy solutions and links all four strategies priorities:

• decarbonising buildings
• renewables uptakes
• energy storage
• sustainable mobility

To reach this global objective, the practical objective of DIALOGUES is to operationalise, contextualize, measure, and support the framework environments, policies and institutions that allow deep, inclusive energy citizenship to emerge.

Partners

• ENERGIEINSTITUT AN DER JOHANNES KEPLER UNIVERSITAT LINZ VEREIN
• ALLEANZA PER IL CLIMA ITALIA
• GENDERCC-WOMEN FOR CLIMATE JUSTICE EV
• DIKTYO AEIFORIKON NISON TOY AIGAIOUAE
• CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF DEMOCRACY
• IZMIR EKONOMI UNIVERSITESI
• UNIVERSITE DE GENEVE
• POTSDAM-INSTITUT FUR KLIMAFOLGENFORSCHUNG EV
• NTNU SAMFUNNSFORSKNING AS
• NORGES TEKNISK-NATURVITENSKAPELIGE UNIVERSITET NTNU
• UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI ROMA TRE
• UNIVERSITE DU QUEBEC A MONTREAL*UQAM
• GLOBAZ, S.A.

Start date: 1 May 2021 - End date: 30 April 2024