TANDEM – Contested energy transitions. Conflicts and social innovations in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Germany, and France

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has induced energy security challenges. The goal of the European Green Deal (2019) to reach climate neutrality by 2050 remains, however, the target. Achieving it implies an increase in low-carbon sources and changes in energy production, distribution, consumption, and savings. The REPower EU plan (2022) fast-forwards the transitions in response to the crisis. Given the early stage and complexity of the process, the understanding of challenges and opportunities by stakeholders involved and the general public lags behind, and support is hesitant among Central and Eastern European countries.

Overcoming misconceptions and conflicts in a just way will be essential for energy transitions. Social research is vital for revealing how stakeholders interpret the transitions and intervene to champion their interests. This project focuses on sustainable electricity production comparatively across four national contexts of Central and Western Europe: the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Germany, and France. Country-specific and transnational patterns of transition resistance and stakeholder conflict will be described, and social innovations for overcoming them will be identified. Research cooperation and evaluation of results will be conducive to preparing project proposal in an ERC, Horizon Europe, or other call supporting excellent research.

Call for applications: two postdoctoral positions (fr)