The UK’s clean energy transition relies on community energy. Drawing on a recent policy consultation call on Unlocking Community Energy at Scale and her EPSRC-funded research, Dr. Anna Chatzimichali highlights the importance of strong social relationships for flexible energy use and stresses the need to prioritise social cohesion to empower communities as active energy managers.
Dr Anna Chatzimichali is a Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor) in Engineering Design at Mechanical Engineering Department. Her current research focuses on flexible energy management, design cognition, and design circularity. She actively advocates for the integration of more human-centred principles in energy solutions.
The UK’s energy system lacks the flexibility needed for a sustainable future. Community energy—renewable energy projects owned and controlled by local communities—is key to the government’s goal of achieving clean power by 2030. To support community energy growth, the UK Parliament and the Energy Security and Net Zero Committee have launched the “Unlocking Community Energy at Scale” inquiry A call for evidence to address financial and regulatory barriers, explore the role of the Local Power Plan, and assess reforms needed in planning, grid connections, and energy markets.
Based on work from our EPSRC-funded project GLOW (EP/V041770/1) led by University of Strathclyde (Prof Oliveira) with a team of colleagues from the University of Bristol (Dr Adkins), and the University of the West of England (Dr Perez Hernandez and Dr Badarnah), I led the response to this inquiry. We highlighted the role of socially intelligent systems and outlined how addressing social dimensions can unlock the potential of flexible, community-driven energy solutions.
To contextualise our research findings, you may imagine two neighbours living side by side - one feels deeply connected to their community, joining local efforts to share resources and make sustainable choices. The other prioritises personal comfort, opting to “go it alone” rather than engaging in collective action. Their choices, shaped by their relationships with those around them, ripple out to influence energy use and the pace of the net zero transition.
Our research [linked below], highlights an intriguing truth: social relationships within communities are more powerful in shaping energy decisions than technical knowledge or industry incentives. A person’s sense of identity within their community—how connected they feel to their neighbours—has a profound impact on how they view and manage energy use.
Community Connections Drive Energy Decisions
The research reveals that people who feel a strong connection to their neighbours—labeled as proactive energy managers—are more likely to make flexible, community-oriented energy decisions. In contrast, reactive energy managers, who lack strong social ties, tend to prioritise personal comfort and may not even consider reducing their carbon footprint.
Energy, as our research shows is a socially embedded value. It is governed by social identity and relationships. People are active energy managers, often sharing knowledge and strategies within their communities.
Implications for Net Zero Policy and Community Energy
These insights carry significant implications for the UK’s transition to renewable energy and the role of the Local Power Plan. They suggest that fostering stronger social connections within communities can unlock new opportunities for energy flexibility—encouraging households to adjust their consumption patterns in line with supply.
Policymakers must move beyond a purely technological approach and consider the social dynamics that underpin energy use.
Recommendations for Policymakers
- Foster a Social Energy Culture:
Create opportunities for residents to connect and share energy-saving practices. This might include community events, local energy forums, or neighbourhood challenges. - Learn from Local Insights:
Recognise that behaviours within neighbourhoods can inform broader policy frameworks. Use these grassroots insights to shape effective policies. - Empower Residents:
Shift the narrative from passive energy consumers to proactive energy managers. People want to feel they are active participants in the energy transition. - Tailor Energy Solutions:
Develop approaches that resonate with diverse community values, moving beyond a one-size-fits-all technological focus. - Invest in Community Strengthening Initiatives:
Direct resources toward projects that build community ties, fostering collaboration and shared energy management.
Why social relationships matter for Community Energy
As the government and energy industry gets to grips with the complexities of energy flexibility and community energy, research offers a clear takeaway; social relationships are a critical, and often overlooked, resource. By understanding how communities and neighbourhoods interact and manage energy, policy makers can design systems that work with, rather than against, human behaviour.
Investing in social cohesion isn’t just good for energy policy, it is good for people. Stronger connections within neighbourhoods can lead to more resilient, adaptable communities capable of meeting the demands of a low-carbon future. By embedding these insights into policy and practice, we can create a system where energy is a sustainable and socially embedded value.
The UK’s clean energy transition relies on community energy. Drawing on a recent policy consultation call on Unlocking Community Energy at Scale and her EPSRC-funded research, Dr. Anna Chatzimichali highlights the importance of strong social relationships for flexible energy use and stresses the need to prioritize social cohesion to empower communities as active energy managers.
This blog highlights recent research by Dr. Anna Chatzimichali and her colleagues. Recent work includes ‘From individuals to collectives in energy systems—A social practice, identity and rhythm inspired lens‘ in Energy Research & Social Science, ‘A socially intelligent approach to consumers’ collective capabilities in smart grids.‘ in 2023 IEEE International Conference on Communications, Control, and Computing Technologies for Smart Grids (SmartGridComm), ’Beyond energy services: A multidimensional and cross-disciplinary agenda for home energy management research. In Energy Research & Social Science, and 'Social identity and relations: implications for home energy demand and the peak load reduction in the UK' – a paper presented at BIEE Research Conference 2023.
All articles posted on this blog give the views of the author(s), and not the position of the IPR, nor of the University of Bath.
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