IEA Users TCP – Social Licence to Automate 3.0

The IEA UsersTCP ‘Social License to Automate 3.0’ (SLA 3.0) strengthens the social foundation for automated load management and, in doing so, supports an inclusive and equitable energy transition. The project combines applied social research with technical context analysis and is closely integrated into the UsersTCP’s international task work, with national findings being discussed within an international context.

The focus is on analysing real-world conditions relating to tariffs, home energy management systems, energy communities and governance, as well as a differentiated stakeholder and user segmentation process. A mixed-methods approach gathers households’ perspectives on usage, convenience, trust, fairness and participation, and links these with existing data from smart metering and app usage.

The technical and social findings are combined to derive application-oriented design principles for tariffs, EMS operating logic and community governance.

The findings are incorporated into policy briefs, factsheets and guidelines and disseminated to relevant target groups through national and international events as well as specialist conferences.