What We Do
Project overview
Rethinking the role of households in the energy transition
ENERPOL focuses on one of the central challenges of the green energy transition: how households can actively participate in a carbon-neutral energy system while being protected from excessive risk and inequality. As renewable energy becomes more variable and household electrification accelerates, households are no longer just consumers—they are producers, flexibility providers and key actors in balancing the energy system.
Balancing efficiency, risk & equity
Dynamic energy prices are essential for integrating renewable energy efficiently, yet recent energy crises have shown how price volatility disproportionately affects households. Limited ability to adjust consumption, high costs of energy efficiency investments and unequal financial resilience mean that price signals can increase inequality and undermine public support for climate policies. ENERPOL addresses this tension by studying how energy markets can remain efficient while reducing household risk and promoting fairness.
Evidence-based policy & market design
ENERPOL develops new economic insights, data-driven tools and policy instruments that link household behaviour, energy prices and inequality. By combining administrative income data with detailed market and consumption data, the project generates evidence that enables better-targeted, more effective energy policies—moving beyond ad-hoc interventions such as price caps and untargeted subsidies.
Interdisciplinary research & real-world testing
The project brings together expertise from economics, energy economics, operations research, mathematics and behavioural science. This interdisciplinary approach allows ENERPOL to model complex energy systems, analyse household decision-making, test smart contracts and pilot policy solutions before they are scaled up in society.
Training the next generation of experts
At the core of ENERPOL is a comprehensive training and research programme for 14 doctoral candidates. They are trained in cutting-edge analytical methods, exposed to real-world energy market institutions and equipped with transferable skills that prepare them for careers across academia, policy and industry.
Impact for europe's Energy future
By embedding research in real industrial, regulatory and social contexts across multiple European countries, ENERPOL delivers actionable insights for ongoing energy market reforms and climate legislation. The project supports a faster, fairer energy transition—one that reduces emissions while advancing energy justice and protecting households across Europe.
Contact us
- Phone
- +47 41 38 44 73
- Heather.Arghandeh.Paudler@nhh.no
