Citizen Engagement in the Energy Transition: Assessing the Impact of Regional Energy Initiatives on Energy Behaviors in German Households

This paper evaluates the effectiveness of regional government initiatives in actively engaging citizens in the energy transition by promoting changes in energy behavior. Employing micro-level data from the German Socio-Economic Panel and insights from the regional-scale “Project 100% Erneuerbare-Energie-Regionen”, the research adopts a difference-in-differences approach to inspect the impact of residing in these regions on households' energy consumption and their choices regarding renewable energy technologies and energy efficiency enhancements. The findings reveal that the program has not been able to actively involve citizens in the energy transition, showing negative effects on the three outcomes inspected. This research highlights the importance of a comprehensive understanding of local energy programs and the need for policies that foster an inclusive approach to energy transition.