Understanding the embeddedness of individuals within the larger system to support energy transition

CO₂ emissions need to be reduced drastically to fight climate change and minimise the further increase of average global temperatures. The decarbonisation of the energy system aims at reducing CO₂ emissions and is thus urgently needed. This transition is facilitated by inter alia switching to renewable energy sources and...

Do laundry when the sun shines: Factors that promote loadshifting in Dutch households with solar panels

The installation of solar panels by residential households is vital for the energy transition. However, the rapid uptake of solar panels by households leads to congestion in the electricity grid. Specifically, when the sun shines, these solar panels simultaneously produce a lot of electricity that is fed into the grid, which is inefficient and...

Beyond techno-economic transitions: towards a conceptual framework to overcome path dependencies

Understanding the embeddedness of individuals within the larger system to support the energy transition

Technological innovations are a key part of the energy transition. However, the social sphere as a force to facilitate the energy transition must not be neglected. While the socio-technical transition theory provides a framework to connect the technological with the social sphere, the role of the individuals within the transition process remains...

Psychology: The missing link in transitions research

In the next decade, transition researchers need to embrace perspectives, theories, and methods from the scientific field of psychology. An integrative research approach that covers the individual, group, and system level, executed in interdisciplinary research teams is necessary for more effective analysis and applications of sustainability...