New junior professor investigates acceptance of the energy transition

Daniel Sloot joined the ITAS as a new professor in July 2026. The doctor of environmental psychology is establishing a research group that looks into the perception of energy systems, for example through large-scale public surveys.
Daniel Sloot KIT/IIP
“I’m interested in how citizens behave in the context of the energy transition,” says Daniel Sloot, the new professor at ITAS.

Most of the technical prerequisites for decarbonizing our energy system are already available. However, alongside economic issues, one barrier to a successful energy transition is the lack of acceptance of new infrastructure and technologies, such as wind farms, solar plants, or heat pumps. The reasons for this and the factors that may explain acceptance will be investigated in the future by Daniel Sloot and his research group “Transformative Energy System Analysis” at ITAS.

Motivations and attitudes toward energy technologies

The environmental psychologist, who earned his doctorate at the University of Groningen, uses quantitative empirical methods including experiments, surveys, and field studies to measure motivations and attitudes. This can provide valuable insights into the societal potential and consequences of new energy technologies, explains the researcher, who most recently worked at the Institute for Industrial Production at KIT.

Establishment of a „Energy Transition Observatory“

Sloot specifically intends to contribute to the creation of an “Energy Transition Observatory.” Over many years, it will track the public’s perceptions of energy transition measures and technologies. He also participates in the Future Energy Panel, which is currently being set up at KIT. In this project, 1,200 households in the Karlsruhe area are equipped with smart meters to study, for example, the effects of dynamic tariffs or the decision to adopt sustainable heating systems. (28.07.2026)

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