Citizen participation in local energy communities: A social identity and pro-environmental behaviour joint perspective

Local energy communities present great potential in changing the current energy paradigm, contributing to a more decarbonized and decentralized system aligned with the sustainable development goals. Given this, it is highly relevant to understanding the antecedents of citizens' intention to participate in these communities. Therefore, this work focuses on two main elements of these communities – social and environmental. Hence, citizen behaviour is analysed in light of the social identity and pro-environmental behaviour theories. Moreover, the knowledge dimension is assessed as a moderator of those relationships. The model is tested using a sample of 400 individuals from Greece using structural equation modelling. The work uncovers the relevance of community commitment, trust, and pro-environmental behaviour. Additionally, knowledge is found to be a strong moderator. These findings are especially relevant for practitioners to comprehend better and boost citizens' willingness to participate in local energy communities.