Green energy at home: Potentials and Challenges of user integration through design thinking

Abstract: In the face of advancing climate change, the use of renewable energy in private households is becoming increasingly relevant. Households act as both energy consumers and potential energy producers. Their integration requires innovative approaches to overcome technical, economic and social barriers. In this context, the design thinking approach offers a user-centered methodology for developing sustainable energy concepts. This article examines the role of design thinking in promoting renewable energy in households. Based on a comprehensive literature review and the analysis of existing case studies, it is shown that design thinking produces creative and practical solutions through iterative processes. The approach addresses technological uncertainties, economic challenges and social acceptance problems by systematically integrating technical requirements and real user needs. The results make it clear that prosumer households in particular, which both consume and produce energy, can be specifically supported through design thinking in order to increase self-sufficiency and grid stability. It also shows that participatory and transparent design processes are key success factors for the social acceptance of renewable energy. Overall, it can be seen that design thinking can make a decisive contribution to the practical, user-oriented development of sustainable energy concepts. Through the structured implementation of the six phases of design thinking, innovative solutions are created that take into account both technical feasibility and social and economic viability. The consistent application of this approach can make a significant contribution to accelerating the decarbonization of energy in the private sector and establishing sustainable transformation processes at household level. Keywords: green energy, design thinking, renewable energy, decarbonization of energy. Title: Green energy at home: Potentials and Challenges of user integration through design thinking Author: Karl-Heinz Dieser International Journal of Mechanical and Industrial Technology ISSN 2348-7593 (Online) Vol. 13, Issue 1, April 2025 - September 2025 Page No: 71-80 Research Publish Journals Website: www.researchpublish.com Published Date: 11-August-2025 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.16793542 Paper Download Link (Source) https://www.researchpublish.com/papers/green-energy-at-home-potentials-and-challenges-of-user-integration-through-design-thinking