Fair, flexible and socially resilient energy systems (Flaire) | Research group for innovating democracy

The project Fair, flexible and socially resilient energy systems (Flaire) explores the opportunities and barriers for demand-response–based solutions in households and municipalities, with the aim of safeguarding the energy system’s capacity for change and its low-carbon transition. The research is funded by the Strategic Research Council for 2023–2026. The project partners are the University of Oulu, the Finnish Environment Institute, the University of Helsinki, the University of Turku, and Aalto University.

The University of Turku subproject examines citizen participation in energy-related issues. In 2025, the subproject organized an energy-themed citizens’ assembly, which took a position on acceptable ways to steer household energy use. The citizens’ assembly was convened to support ongoing policy preparation in the ministries. It was carried out in cooperation with the Ministry of the Environment, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, and Sitra.

Photo: working session of the Citizens’ Assembly on Energy; photographer: Eino Ansio