PEDvolution Stakeholders' consultation session coordinated by Es-geht!-Energiesysteme GmbH, held in Wunsiedel, Germany, on 24th of September 2024 with the participation of approximately 30 local residence, citizens and representatives from the wider Schönbrunn community.

The aim of the event was to inform residents and customers about the coming developments under PEDvolution, and collect citizen feedback on the different forms of participation in the local energy market and its importance to them as well as its contribution to their daily life.

During the interactive workshop, participants were divided into four groups to discuss, exchange ideas and views on the follows four questions:

• What is a balanced energy district?
• How do local energy communities work?
• How do I influence my own energy price?
• What does all this have to do with my neighborhood?

The event was an opportunity to better understand the attitude, involvement and current needs of the Schönbrunn community as regards energy issues and their attitude towards change while moving towards towards a green economy. Valuable feedback was collected, which will be taken into consideration during the next steps of PEDvolution’s development.

In summary, the residents of Schönbrunn are generally open to energy issues. Many of them are part of the existing local heating network, and the recently founded energy-sharing community generates interest. It was noticeable here that only older citizens and pensioners in particular are interested in the topic of energy. Accordingly, there are still many people who can be reached.

Respective events have also taken place in the other 2 PEDvolution demonstration sites, in Kranj, Slovenia and the Hard Community, in Winterthur, Switzerland.