Connected Energy

The energy transition is becoming increasingly visible in everyday life. The electricity grid is becoming more congested, while not everyone is able to invest in solar panels, a home battery or an electric vehicle. This creates differences between people who can and cannot benefit from new energy solutions. Vattenfall is therefore exploring how energy can be organised not only individually, but also collectively, and how local energy sharing can contribute to greater control, fairness and connection within neighbourhoods.

How can energy reconnect people? The designers are exploring how individual initiatives can be connected and scaled up into collective solutions at neighbourhood level. They are looking not only at technology, but also at accessibility, trust, behaviour, collaboration and the role of parties such as energy providers, grid operators and municipalities.

Vattenfall and Dutch Design Foundation selected Greenberry, Ideate and Anna Kozera. The three design studios are approaching the challenge from different perspectives. Greenberry focuses on inclusive solutions that connect with everyday life, Anna Kozera explores how spatial infrastructure can support collaboration, and Ideate focuses on trust and relationships between people.