About ALIGN4energy
About the project
Due to the significant information, coordination, and transaction costs that individuals and citizen collectives face, the energy transition in residential structures takes a very long time. At the same time, policymakers are expected to coordinate a complicated process that determines the overall effectiveness of the new energy system and the cost of decarbonization. ALIGN4energy aims to address both challenges through eight work packages. It does so by:
Mapping citizens’ preferences and investment barriers in a transdisciplinary manner;
Modeling how certain investments will affect the efficiency of the entire energy system;
Creating an adaptive digital decision-support system (the SAMEN-platform) for citizens and policymakers that optimizes investments at the individual and energy system levels while also providing users with customized information and planning;
Co-developing and systematically field- testing participation mechanisms, citizen engagement tactics, and behavioral interventions to encourage investments.
Read more about our work packages
Societal impact
Using customized rather than standardized behavioral interventions encourages clean energy investments by (groups of) citizens. We will test these customized behavioral interventions systematically and at a large scale, both online and offline, allowing improvements.
This approach enables:
A quicker and more cost-efficient decarbonization of the residential sector while keeping up a reliable and affordable energy supply for all societal groups;
Increased citizen engagement and participation in the decisions related to decarbonizing the residential sector, with particular attention to the inclusion of vulnerable or minority groups in decision-making;
Increased societal support for the transition to gas-free homes;
Reduced total cost and increased economic opportunities from the transition to gas-free homes, in the form of more entrepreneurship and citizen initiatives related to local heating solutions;
Policy measures that align with citizens' preferences and societal needs.
Scientific impact
This project uses a bottom-up, data-driven strategy to align and integrate research on human systems (individual and group decisions, social dynamics) with modelling of energy systems. If achieved, this allows for the simultaneous optimization of investments in clean energy at both the individual and energy system level. The resulting digital decision-support system will provide tailored information to citizens and politicians.