Blind spots of participation: How differently do geothermal energy managers and residents understand participation?
Participation is often presented as the solution for achieving social acceptance in energy infrastructure projects. Despite its broad recognition, participation might have very different meanings depending on the perspective taken. In this paper, we empirically explore different understandings of tw...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2020-11-01
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| Series: | Energy Reports |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S235248472031221X |
| _version_ | 1818408491478417408 |
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| author | Franziska Ruef Michael Stauffacher Olivier Ejderyan |
| author_facet | Franziska Ruef Michael Stauffacher Olivier Ejderyan |
| author_sort | Franziska Ruef |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Participation is often presented as the solution for achieving social acceptance in energy infrastructure projects. Despite its broad recognition, participation might have very different meanings depending on the perspective taken. In this paper, we empirically explore different understandings of two central perspectives in a participatory process: those of the project managers and the residents. While project managers have a rather classic view of participatory formats, residents look for formats they can accommodate in their everyday practices. Put together, both perspectives expand common conceptualizations of participation in the literature and enable the detection of blind spots. Based on empirical data from geothermal energy, our findings show that perceptions and expectations of participation vary and, in some cases, diverge, which leads to misunderstandings about the nature and scope of participation. This, in turn, can delay or even block energy projects. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T09:44:35Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-77be243dcadc4bb5ab98bb33697b9cff |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2352-4847 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T09:44:35Z |
| publishDate | 2020-11-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energy Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-77be243dcadc4bb5ab98bb33697b9cff2022-12-21T23:07:42ZengElsevierEnergy Reports2352-48472020-11-01619501962Blind spots of participation: How differently do geothermal energy managers and residents understand participation?Franziska Ruef0Michael Stauffacher1Olivier Ejderyan2Corresponding author at: Transdisciplinarity Lab, Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH Zürich, Universitätsstrasse 16, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland.; Transdisciplinarity Lab, Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH Zürich, Universitätsstrasse 16, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland; Swiss Competence Center for Energy Research—Supply of Electricity (SCCER-SoE), ETH Zürich, Sonneggstrasse 5, 8092 Zürich, SwitzerlandTransdisciplinarity Lab, Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH Zürich, Universitätsstrasse 16, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland; Swiss Competence Center for Energy Research—Supply of Electricity (SCCER-SoE), ETH Zürich, Sonneggstrasse 5, 8092 Zürich, SwitzerlandTransdisciplinarity Lab, Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH Zürich, Universitätsstrasse 16, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland; Swiss Competence Center for Energy Research—Supply of Electricity (SCCER-SoE), ETH Zürich, Sonneggstrasse 5, 8092 Zürich, SwitzerlandParticipation is often presented as the solution for achieving social acceptance in energy infrastructure projects. Despite its broad recognition, participation might have very different meanings depending on the perspective taken. In this paper, we empirically explore different understandings of two central perspectives in a participatory process: those of the project managers and the residents. While project managers have a rather classic view of participatory formats, residents look for formats they can accommodate in their everyday practices. Put together, both perspectives expand common conceptualizations of participation in the literature and enable the detection of blind spots. Based on empirical data from geothermal energy, our findings show that perceptions and expectations of participation vary and, in some cases, diverge, which leads to misunderstandings about the nature and scope of participation. This, in turn, can delay or even block energy projects.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S235248472031221XParticipationGeothermal energySitingParticipant observationFocus groups |
| spellingShingle | Franziska Ruef Michael Stauffacher Olivier Ejderyan Blind spots of participation: How differently do geothermal energy managers and residents understand participation? Energy Reports Participation Geothermal energy Siting Participant observation Focus groups |
| title | Blind spots of participation: How differently do geothermal energy managers and residents understand participation? |
| title_full | Blind spots of participation: How differently do geothermal energy managers and residents understand participation? |
| title_fullStr | Blind spots of participation: How differently do geothermal energy managers and residents understand participation? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Blind spots of participation: How differently do geothermal energy managers and residents understand participation? |
| title_short | Blind spots of participation: How differently do geothermal energy managers and residents understand participation? |
| title_sort | blind spots of participation how differently do geothermal energy managers and residents understand participation |
| topic | Participation Geothermal energy Siting Participant observation Focus groups |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S235248472031221X |
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