E.ON Case Study
The energy transition is one of the central issues of our time. But how can developments in this area be presented in an informative way? E.ON answers this question with the Energy Atlas, its interactive data tool on the German energy sector. Using data from Civey, among other sources, the energy provider shows, among other things, which regions in Germany are particularly well-positioned in the area of green electricity.
The Current Situation:
Germany is becoming greener—the energy transition is moving forward. The installed capacity of wind turbines, solar power plants, and other renewable energy sources is growing, and the share of renewable energy continues to reach new record highs. To make the complex topic of the energy transition more accessible, E.ON has launched the Energy Atlas. This interactive data tool shows, with just a click of the mouse, how the energy transition is unfolding in Germany and across the individual federal states, counties, and cities not belonging to any county.
The Goal:
With the Energy Atlas format, E.ON chose an approach that illustrates both national and regional trends. To implement this, the company, in collaboration with the agency Ressourcenmangel, sought out a market research firm capable of collecting representative data—down to the county level—on various topics related to the energy sector. Among other things, the data was intended to be used in the “Green Energy Champions” ranking to supplement other analyses—such as performance data on renewable energy in Germany.
Our Solution:
Civey collected representative data for E.ON down to the county level. To do this, Civey uses a model-based, statistical method for small data areas that ensures reliable data. You can find more information about so-called small-area methods here. Among other things, the study determined how residents in each county and independent city are personally engaged in the energy transition. Combined with additional data, this resulted in the “Green Energy Champions” index, which provides journalists and users with an overview of Germany’s greenest regions. E.ON also relied on Civey data when compiling a ranking of the prevalence of e-bikes and pedelecs in Germany.
The Success:
Thanks in part to the data from Civey, E.ON was able to create a unique, data-driven tool with tangible content for all of Germany as well as for individual regions. With several hundred press articles and numerous radio reports, the Energy Atlas generated a tremendous media response. The energy provider E.ON has thus created a content hub for journalists and consumers alike. In the fall of 2020, the Energy Atlas was honored with the PR Report Award in the “Technology-Based Communication” category.
Our Energy Atlas gives journalists and consumers the opportunity to interactively learn about current topics in the German energy sector. We highlight both national and regional trends—based on a broad data set to which Civey also contributes.