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: TBC

Abstract: TBC

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

Masters Student: Xenia Stocker 

Timeframe: January - May 2025

Abstract: TBC