Objectives

This task aims to foster a deeper understanding of social acceptance, participation, and trust-building in automated energy systems. Building on the insights gained from SLA 1.0 and 2.0, the focus is on how digital control, data-driven flexibility utilization, and algorithmic decision-making can be designed to be socially robust.

Content / Austrian Contribution

Austrian participation is supported by Burgenland Energie AG (power supply company) and Forschung Burgenland (Research Area Energy & Society). The contribution focuses on real-world use cases and empirical studies in the context of energy communities, digital tariffs, and Home Energy Management Systems (HEMS). The goal is to investigate how end customers react to automated processes, which factors promote trust and willingness to participate, and how energy literacy can be improved.

Specifically, user group analyses, focus groups, and online surveys will be conducted, supplemented by qualitative case studies (e.g., the Neudörfl energy community). The results will inform the work of Subtask 2, which is developing indicators and assessment models for "Social License to Automate."

Expected Results

• Indicators for social acceptance and participation in digitized energy systems
• Recommendations for energy suppliers, technology providers, and policymakers
• Contributions to international policy briefs and the task's guidelines
• Transferable concepts for user integration in Austria (e.g., for energy communities, flexibility markets, HEMS)

Project leader

Tanja Jurasszovich
Forschung Burgenland GmbH
Campus 1, 7000 Eisenstadt, AUSTRIA
E-Mail: tanja.jurasszovich@hochschule-burgenland.at

Project partner

Philipp Novakovits
Burgenland Energie AG
Kasernenstraße 9, 7000 Eisenstadt, AUSTRIA
E-Mail: philipp.novakovits@burgenlandenergie.at

Australia, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland (lead), USA