Scientific Data (Jan 2023)

A Europe-wide inventory of citizen-led energy action with data from 29 countries and over 10000 initiatives

  • August Wierling,
  • Valeria Jana Schwanitz,
  • Jan Pedro Zeiss,
  • Constantin von Beck,
  • Heather Arghandeh Paudler,
  • Ingrid Knutsdotter Koren,
  • Tobias Kraudzun,
  • Timothy Marcroft,
  • Lukas Müller,
  • Zacharias Andreadakis,
  • Chiara Candelise,
  • Simon Dufner,
  • Melake Getabecha,
  • Grete Glaase,
  • Wit Hubert,
  • Veronica Lupi,
  • Sona Majidi,
  • Shirin Mohammadi,
  • Negar Safara Nosar,
  • Yann Robiou du Pont,
  • Philippa Roots,
  • Tadeusz Józef Rudek,
  • Alessandro Sciullo,
  • Gayatri Sehdev,
  • Mehran Ziaabadi,
  • Nahid Zoubin

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-022-01902-5
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 10, no. 1
pp. 1 – 8

Abstract

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Abstract Numerous case studies show that citizens engage in various ways in renewable and low carbon energy projects, thereby contributing to the sustainable energy transition. To date, however, a systematic and cross-country database on citizen-led initiatives and projects is lacking. By performing a major compilation and reviewing copious data sources from websites to official registries, we provide a Europe-wide inventory with over 10,000 initiatives and 16,000 production units in 29 countries, focusing on the past 20 years. Our data allow cross-country statistical analysis, supporting the elicitation of empirical insights capable of extending beyond the perspective of single case studies. Our data also align with ongoing efforts to implement two EU Directives that aim at strengthening the active role of citizens in the energy transition. While the focus of our data collection is on Europe, the data and methodology can contribute to the global analysis of citizen-led energy action.