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Which (co-)ownership types in renewables are associated with the willingness to adopt energy-efficient technologies and energy-conscious behaviour? Data from German households

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  • Roth, Lucas
  • Lowitzsch, Jens
  • Yildiz, Özgür

Abstract

Emission reduction in the energy sector is built on two main pillars: a shift from fossil fuels to renewable sources and using available energy more efficiently. While renewable electricity production experienced a substantial acceleration in capacity building in the past ten years, energy demand - despite longstanding policy efforts – is still constantly on the rise worldwide. This paper combines both aspects analysing whether different (co-)ownership types in renewables in the residential sector are associated with an increased inclination to invest in energy-efficient appliances or to behave more energy consciously. To do so, we estimate an analysis of covariance using a sample with demographic and electricity consumption data from 1454 German households. Our results show that, in general, (co-)owners of renewable energy installations are more willing to invest in energy-efficient technologies than people who are not involved with renewables. However, there are differences between (co-)ownership types. People who have the choice between self-consumption and sale to third parties or the grid, i.e., fully-fledged prosumers, show the strongest inclination to invest in energy efficiency. Further, when analysing energy savings through adapted behaviour, solely this (co-)ownership group shows an increased propensity for conscious energy consumption behaviour.

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  • Roth, Lucas & Lowitzsch, Jens & Yildiz, Özgür, 2023. "Which (co-)ownership types in renewables are associated with the willingness to adopt energy-efficient technologies and energy-conscious behaviour? Data from German households," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 180(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:enepol:v:180:y:2023:i:c:s0301421523002689
    DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2023.113683
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