about Ensu

About EnSu

From 2020 to 2026, EnSu investigated the role of energy sufficiency in achieving a successful energy transition and a socio-ecological transformation. The collaborative project was carried out by the European University of Flensburg, the Wuppertal Institute and the Öko-Institut.

The project began with the question of how climate protection and social well-being can be achieved within ecological limits. EnSu assumed that, whilst technological efficiency improvements and renewable energies are indispensable, they are not sufficient on their own. The focus was therefore on a third strategy: sufficiency – the reduction of energy and resource consumption through changes in social practices, consumption patterns and infrastructure.

The project analysed sufficiency concepts, examined policy instruments, researched the social conditions necessary for their implementation, and developed scenarios and models to assess the impact of sufficiency on energy systems and emissions.

Key findings

The findings show that sufficiency is an indispensable component of a sustainable energy transition. Sufficiency measures can significantly lower energy demand, reduce emissions and, at the same time, support social objectives. Combined with technological innovations, they enable particularly effective and cost-efficient pathways to transformation.

Key findings include:

  • the development of a framework for sufficiency policies and a database containing over 350 policy instruments,
  • new insights into the potential of sufficiency in the sectors of transport, buildings, agriculture/food, and consumption and production,
  • the integration of sufficiency into scenarios for Germany and Europe,
  • analyses of the social, political and distributional conditions for implementing sufficiency,
  • impetus for the development of a national sufficiency strategy.

EnSu’s work shows that a successful energy transition requires not only technological innovations, but also social and political changes that enable lower energy and resource consumption.