Designing community-driven energy solutions. Reflecting on design for future social systems and the ability to shape change

Electrification is a promising strategy to reduce CO2 emissions by 2050 as solar, wind, and other renewable sources substitute fossil fuels. It is also a significant way to reduce energy poverty in disconnected areas. Electricity can be produced from different sources and by individuals or communities. Community energy solutions allow citizens to participate in the energy transition by pooling resources with their neighbours and community for larger-scale installations, bringing cheaper and cleaner energy and economic and social benefits to households and businesses. Community energy projects enhance the sense of belonging, build social capital, and improve well-being by involving renewable energy technologies that feed existing grids and networks or are autonomous local grids and networks with different distribution infrastructure ownership models. A master class of international students tasked with designing product-service systems for energy communities has developed concepts aimed at communities with limited resources undergoing pressure due to heat waves or massive tourism or providing support to vulnerable populations. Challenges and complexities in finding innovative solutions for radical infrastructural changes have emerged in addressing community solutions and the transition toward local empowerment.