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The Impact of Energy Communities : An Explorative Interview Study on the Psychological and Social Impact of Energy Communities on their Participants and Local Community

Vogel, Helene (2024) The Impact of Energy Communities : An Explorative Interview Study on the Psychological and Social Impact of Energy Communities on their Participants and Local Community.

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Abstract:Increased usage of renewable energies plays a growingly important role in counteracting the climate crisis. Energy communities contribute to this by allowing local citizens and communities to invest in sustainable resources together and actively drive the local energy transition. This exploratory interview study investigated the psychological and social impacts energy communities create for their participants and local community. The semi- structured interviews with participants of 10 different renewable energy collectives all over Germany were analyzed using thematic analysis to reveal the following eight themes: “Achievement”, “Group Building”, “Quality of Life”, “Pro-Environmentalism”, “Problem Solving”, “Security”, “Stress”, and “Trust”. These themes allow for greater insight into the different impacts these energy communities created for their participants and their environment. The insights that were acquired in this study for one add to the inadequate literature of social and psychological impacts of energy communities, and furthermore lay ground for future research in this field, which is needed to eventually create tangible solutions for the climate crisis.
Item Type:Essay (Bachelor)
Faculty:BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences
Subject:77 psychology
Programme:Psychology BSc (56604)
Link to this item:https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/100136
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