Realizing existing potentials for energy suppliers as solution provider for photovoltaics and storage solutions

Pressemeldung – Donnerstag, 24.03.2022

Findings of the latest EUPD Research survey show that energy suppliers are a seen as central contact person regarding energy topics by more than half of the surveyed private households. However, they are rarely perceived as innovation and solution provider. Although the selection of one’s energy supplier is still a decision based on the best available price, ecology and regional focus plan an important role too. By offering energy transition technologies such as photovoltaics and energy storage, a great potential for energy suppliers is opening up. The majority of end consumers that consider this aspect as an important criterion for the selection of their energy supplier, may already have concrete plans to invest in that technology. These are results of an analysis in the context of this year's Energiewende Award for energy suppliers. The Award will be presented to the most innovative energy suppliers of the DACH region at the innovation platform „The smarter E Europe“ on May 12, 2022.

Bonn. Energy prices have been a much-discussed topic in society and politics for quite some time. In the context of the Ukraine war, this topic has substantially increased in its explosive nature and impact. High cost for fossil fuels for heating, record highs for fuel at gas stations, and constantly rising electricity prices stimulate the demand for renewable energies. Most energy supplier are still active as classical supplier of fossil energy but aim to position themselves as actor in the energy transition at the same time. How successful this process has been shows a recent study among end consumers and how they view energy supplier, conducted by Bonn-based economic and market research firm EUPD Research. This analysis is part of this year's Energiewende Award for energy suppliers, which is presented together with „The smarter E Europe“ and Deutsches CleanTech Institute (DCTI) to excellent energy suppliers in the DACH region.

More than half of the surveyed 502 households view their energy supplier as central contact person regarding all energy topics. With respect to the energy transition, only 45 percent of interviewees consider their energy supplier as competent contact person. When it comes to the implementation of the energy transition, the share of those seeing their energy supplier as solution provide reduces to 39 percent. Only about one-third believes that energy suppliers are capable to actively contribute to the energy transition with innovative products and services.

The rates for electricity and heat is the dominant criterion for decision making, when it comes to selecting their current energy suppliers. About 79% of surveyed households chose their energy supplier based on attractive price offers for electricity. Although lower, 61% of the interviewees decided for low-priced offers for heat. Besides electricity rate, green electricity (50 percent) and local production (44 percent) are complementing the decision-making process in survey respondents. At the same time, an environmental engagement and a portfolio of consulting services are relevant criteria for the choice of energy suppliers. As mentioned above, private households rather attribute less competencies as solution providers. Only one-third of the interviewed households considered criteria such as offering solar energy generation and storage as well as solar thermal or heat pumps important for their decision. Just 29 percent chose their energy provider based on their offer of charging stations for electric mobility.

Despite a limited relevance in the decision making process, the offering of energy transition technologies holds potential for energy suppliers. The current survey results suggest that about half of the surveyed households – considering photovoltaics and energy storage as relevant – also have specific investment plans for a photovoltaic system. For the segment of energy storage, a larger share of interviewees (60 percent) have plans to invest. Especially retrofit for existing photovoltaic system is in high demand as there is a higher intent to invest in the medium term.

“Our long-term analysis of energy supplier in the DACH region reveals that suppliers are not always aware of their role in the energy transition and thus, the potential as solution provider for end consumers cannot be realized. With the annual Energiewende Award winners we aim to showcase the beacons for the energy industry together with our partners The smarter E Europe and the German CleanTech Institute.”, adds Dr. Martin Ammon, Managing Director at EUPD Research.

Energiewende Award für Energieversorger

The most innovative energy providers will be honored with the Energiewende Award for the 6th time at the innovation platform “The smarter E Europe“, taking place on May 12, 2022. The Award is addressed to highly engaged energy suppliers, who promote and accelerate the Energiewende (Energy Transition) in the DACH region. The project initiators are the DCTI Deutsches CleanTech Institut (German CleanTech Institute), The smarter E Europe and EUPD Research. Before this year's ceremony, previous Energiewende Award winners are invited to discuss opportunities and challenges of the energy transition with political representatives.

Further information about the Energiewende Award can be found at www.energiewende-award.de . In case of questions, please contact Saif Islam, at +49 (0) 228 97143-20 or islam@energiewende-award.de .

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