End-users: The trigger to shape the European Energy System

How can end-users in the energy system be empowered? This INSIGHT_E brief sheds light on the issue, assuming that the end-user will be key to a successful European Energy Transition. This publication shortly reviews the context and describes the process that is coined the Societal Appropriation of energy, a four step process that leads to end-users steering this transformation of the energy system. Barriers that currently prevent end-users from being empowered are then identified. The brief follows with further elaboration on the overall process to employ short-term and long-term measures in order to increase end-users’ awareness and understanding of how to fully participate in the transformation of the Energy System. Societal Appropriation of energy is the process and end-result arising from “the appropriation of behaviour that can lead to change in the overall energy system”.