Socio-spatial patterns of energy citizenship components in contemporary Hungary

Energy citizenship has recently emerged as a key concept in the social sciences related to energy transition, yet its definition, components, and societal manifestations remain underexplored. This paper contributes to this discussion by analysing the socio-spatial patterns of energy citizenship components in Hungary, based on a representative national survey ( N = 1000) conducted in early 2023. Based on literature, four constitutive components were operationalised: participation, pro-sustainability energy-use practices, prosumerism and pro-sustainability attitudes. Using hierarchical cluster analysis, we identified four distinct societal groups: everyday reduction practitioners, highly aware citizens, disengaged consumers, and transition pioneers, each featuring specific socio-spatial profiles. Our findings reveal that energy citizens characterised by the high level of all constitutive components are not identifiable as a distinct social group in the Hungarian context, instead, the components of energy citizenship appear in fragmented combinations across the population. This challenges ideal-typical views of energy citizenship as a coherent social condition and highlights contextual factors, including structural constraints that shape citizens' agency in becoming energy citizens, including housing type, available infrastructure, resources, the policy context and political culture. Our findings, beyond their scientific contribution, offer guidance for differentiated policy interventions to promote energy citizenship and energy transition.