CoSi

Within the framework of Work Package 2, our team is dedicated to examining the societal aspects of the energy transition and past transdisciplinary collaborations in Swiss energy research. This involves a systematic review of literature on societal aspects of the energy transition, the integration of arts, social sciences and humanities into energy modeling, and the influence that the integration process has on policymaking. This information, synthesized with the outcomes of our investigation into energy research collaborations within transdisciplinary settings, will be communicated to our CoSi partners through a detailed report on the social dimensions of the energy transition.

Moving forward, we plan to conduct approximately 20 semi-structured interviews with energy modelers and authors of seminal papers. These interviews will provide valuable perspectives on the current representation of social and cultural aspects within energy transition research, as well as potential priorities for future integration efforts between the social sciences, humanities, and energy modeling communities.

Employing qualitative research methods, our aim is to offer novel insights to our partners in the CoSi project and contribute to the creation of an Integration Toolbox. To date, our work has involved an extensive literature review, utilizing complex research strings in databases such as Web of Science and SCOPUS. Through precise selection criteria, we have identified relevant publications and are currently engaged in qualitative content analysis, categorizing literature within a structured coding frame.
 

Co-creating Energy Futures: Integrating Arts, HUmanities and Social Sciences in Energy Modeling

Doctoral candidate: Konstanty Ramotowski

Timeframe: August 2023 – August 2027

Abstract: The integration of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences (AHSS) into energy modeling has become a source of lively debate in the energy research field in recent years. It is seen as an opportunity for advancing models and improving their representation of reality, social relevance, and transparency. The interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary approaches in particular create opportunities for collaborations to emerge between AHSS and energy modeling communities, and to foster the co-creation process necessary for meaningful knowledge integration. In Switzerland, the calls for transdisciplinary energy research have made an institutional impact, leading to the development of projects such as ‘Co-evolution and coordinated simulation of Swiss energy system and Swiss society (CoSi, Funded by Swiss Federal Office of Energy, 2023-2033 period), in which my PhD thesis is framed. However, the role that Arts, Social Sciences, and Humanities have in energy research and the contribution these disciplines provide to our understanding of the energy transition is not yet fully determined. In my doctoral research project, I aim to investigate further socio-technical imaginaries and practices of the energy research community in Switzerland to understand how they shape the development of energy research and possible energy futures. Applying a cultural perspective to my research and using qualitative research methods such as literature review, in-depth interviews, and ethnography, I will delve into the current representation of ‘social aspects’ and the integration process of AHSS in energy modeling and the possible implications it brings for policymaking. These insights are expected to support decision-makers and contribute to a more informed policy-creation process in Switzerland.

Fostering Stakeholder Engagement in the Development of Alpine Photovoltaic Projects: Best Practices and Challenges in Switzerland
 

Masters student: Paula Winkler

Timeframe: October 2024 - April 2025

Abstract: This thesis investigates how stakeholders are engaged in the planning phase of alpine PV projects in Switzerland. At a time when the Swiss energy transition must address a growing winter electricity gap, alpine PV projects are a promising solution. However, their success depends on public support. This thesis enriches the understanding of energy democracy by examining how new ownerships are negotiated in the concrete case of alpine PV. In Switzerland, as in many countries, the energy transition depends not only on technology but also on the people who have a seat at the table. At a local context, alpine PV offers new opportunities for social empowerment to decide their energy future, but these opportunities unfold within the social, political and institutional context in which they emerge. Using a transdisciplinary research framework, this study applies collaborative stakeholder mapping, semi-structured interviews, and a workshop with project developers to examine engagement practices across 17 large-scale alpine PV projects. Rather than evaluating engagement from the outside, transdisciplinary principles were applied as a methodological foundation to co-produce insights with stakeholders and embed justice considerations into the research process. This study makes three key contributions. First, it maps the diverse and interconnected stakeholder landscape. Second, it captures a snapshot of engagement practices at a pivotal moment in time, as the first solar PV projects are being built in Switzerland. Third, by analysing the emerging best practices and challenges, this study provides practical guidance to improve stakeholder engagement for future renewable energy projects. Findings reveal a limited culture of engagement, despite Switzerland’s tradition of direct democracy. This study argues that energy democracy in this context does not require full community ownership, but rather well-timed engagement throughout the project lifecycle. These insights contribute to ongoing debates on how to operationalise just energy transitions in emerging renewable technologies.

Transdisciplinarity in practice: What is the potential of renewable energy communities in the energy transition of Switzerland?

Bachelors Student: Xenia Stocker 

Timeframe: January 2025 - TBC

Abstract: In 2019, the Federal Council of Switzerland initiated a long-term climate strategy aimed at achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, in response to the escalating impacts of climate change. To support this initiative, the Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE) launched the "Swiss Energy Research for the Energy Transition" (SWEET) program: “SWEET aims to accelerate innovations critical to implementing Switzerland’s Energy Strategy 2050 and achieving the country’s climate goals”. Additionally, the "Co-Evolution and Coordinated Simulation of the Swiss Energy System and Swiss Society" (CoSi) project was established. This bachelor thesis, conducted within the context of the CoSi project, investigates the potential of Solar Energy Communities in urban environments of Switzerland, using Zurich as a case study. The study aims to evaluate their contribution to achieving Switzerland’s climate goals. By using the canton of Zurich as a case study, conclusions drawn to be applicable to the broader urban context of Switzerland. It is justified to only focus on the urban areas, due to the higher electricity demands of urban areas compared to rural regions, which are not considered in this study. The primary objective of this study is to examine the integration of transdisciplinary approaches within Solar Energy Communities and to identify how these approaches can assist in overcoming the challenges faced by such communities.

The research methodology encompasses a comprehensive qualitative literature review on transdisciplinarity and renewable energy communities. Furthermore, semi-structured interviews will be conducted with individuals actively involved in renewable energy, experts on renewable energy communities and with representatives from EKZ (Elektrizitätswerk des Kantons Zürich) and EWZ (Elektrizitätswerk Zürich). Additionally, to the interviews, sites of Solar Energy Communities will be visited and walking interviews will be implemented. Those approaches are expected to provide valuable insights into the capacities, possibilities, and future prospects of Solar Energy Communities and the energy system in the canton of Zurich. Potential risks associated with the broad scope of renewable energy communities will be mitigated by narrowing the study to specific criteria, primarily focusing on solar energy and communities which are based in an urban area and namely located in the canton of Zurich. This study aims to provide a contextualized understanding of the potential and challenges of Solar Energy Communities in urban areas in Switzerland to contribute to net-zero ambitions. Emphasizing the transdisciplinary approaches that could be adopted to address these challenges. These communities could serve as exemplary models for integrating transdisciplinarity in bottom-up initiatives, offering valuable insights for future research.