Innovation pathways for the energy transition: using activity spaces to assess the role of proximity

Innovation plays a central role in the ongoing energy transition towards lower carbon solutions. While decentralized energy technologies exist, their widespread adoption remains a challenge. The diffusion of innovations in society is rooted in the knowledge diffusion in social networks and the uptake of novel ideas by co-located actors. Localized communities of knowledge as well as social and spatial proximity influence the diffusion of energy technologies. However, certain aspects of proximity effects remain unexplored. While the influence of interpersonal contacts in the adoption decision is studied, it is rarely complemented by professionals’ influence. Most studies focus on a single energy technology, without exploring their differences. Spatial distance is generally operationalized neglecting individual, socio-political and environmental constraints that actors experience when traversing space and actors are conceptualized as static points at home. In this study, we surveyed 3,000 adopters of photovoltaic panels (PV), electric vehicles (EV) and energy management systems (EMS) in Switzerland We investigated their interactions with professionals and personal contacts that influenced adoption decisions, focusing on the role of social and spatial proximity and we used the concept of activity spaces – areas individuals frequent for their regular activities within a time frame – to achieve a dynamic approach to a social actor’s location in the geographic space. Findings indicate that exchange locations do not substantially differ between personal and professional contacts, both tending to be local. Variations in social and spatial proximity exist among technologies, with activity space size influenced by environmental factors like access to services and home-work location.