Barriers and benefits of public participation in energy transitions: A meta-analysis of empirical evidence from Central Europe

Public participation plays a critical role in energy transitions by enhancing democratic legitimacy and procedural justice. This paper reviews 129 studies from Austria, Germany, and Switzerland, focusing on the effectiveness of participatory processes in energy transition projects. Key participation formats included dialogues, information events, town hall meetings, working groups, and referenda, which were analyzed according to various dimensions such as procedural design, inclusiveness, and outcomes. The findings highlight both opportunities and limitations of public participation. Effective participation fosters transparency, trust, and social acceptance, particularly when stakeholders are involved early and given meaningful influence, and processes are transparent. However, challenges such as insufficient early engagement, power imbalances, and low trust in authorities often undermine these benefits. Many participatory processes are limited to information dissemination or consultation, offering minimal empowerment to citizens. The evaluation also reveals that participation is not a guaranteed pathway to acceptance; poorly designed processes can lead to increased resistance and mistrust. This study identifies systemic deficits, including inadequate integration of local contexts, limited decision-making autonomy, and superficial engagement practices, which diminish the potential of participation to achieve its goals. Addressing these barriers requires embedding participation into legal frameworks, fostering inclusivity, and developing adaptive, context-specific strategies. A closer look into practices of public participation indicates that the potential for procedural justice is often underutilized. The most important aspects are personalized individual influences, implementation issues, acceptance, legal frameworks, and local relevance. Based on these insights, the author derives policy recommendations for better participation strategies, procedures, and practices, as well as outlines crucial research challenges for analyzing future participatory energy transitions.