Energy Research & Social Science最新文献

{"title":"Solar Saver(s): A case study of place-based financial intermediation for just transitions to sustainable housing in Australia","authors":"Paris Hadfield","doi":"10.1016/j.erss.2026.104589","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.erss.2026.104589","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Significant investment in residential energy efficiency, electrification, and renewable energy is needed to meet climate targets and address the social impacts of poor quality and unaffordable housing. Upfront costs and household financial capabilities remain a critical barrier to home retrofits, while government subsidies can reproduce inequalities in access. Situated in the literature on place-based intermediation of housing retrofit, this paper examines debt financing as a contested mechanism for addressing these challenges, and the role local government can play in advancing socially equitable outcomes. The paper presents an in-depth case study of a municipal solar finance program established in Melbourne, Australia in 2013 which saw over AUD$4.8 million invested by local government in interest-free loans for low-income homeowners to install solar PV and other appliances up to the closure of the program in 2025. Through qualitative analysis of council meeting documents and interviews with practitioners and households, this paper conceptualises retrofit financing as an intermediation function that assembles private product provider offerings, government subsidies, and energy prices through cost-benefit calculations, capital transfers, and risk management. As a public lender and trusted service provider, local government adapts incumbent financing logics and practices (interest, loan term, and credit worthiness) to improve access to credit and enable housing retrofits for typically excluded households. Nevertheless, the transformative potential of municipal home retrofit finance is circumscribed by tenure, the calculability of the retrofit, and municipal governance capacity. This case thus demonstrates both the opportunities and challenges in reconfiguring debt relations for just transitions to sustainable housing.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48384,"journal":{"name":"Energy Research & Social Science","volume":"133 ","pages":"Article 104589"},"PeriodicalIF":7.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147401615","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Same name, different indicator: A systematic review of how energy poverty is measured when viewed through a wellbeing lens","authors":"Lee V. White ,&nbsp;Muhammad Sikandar Ali Chaudary ,&nbsp;Kashef Kahn","doi":"10.1016/j.erss.2026.104583","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.erss.2026.104583","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Definition and measurement of energy poverty determines whose hardship is recognised and whose is overlooked. However, the literature is characterised by fragmentation of conceptions and measurement. In this systematic review, we investigate whether more consistent multi-dimensional measurement of energy poverty could arise from a movement towards a wellbeing-focused conception where the social necessity of adequate energy services is recognised. Of 103 measurement-focused publications, we identify 50 that frame energy poverty in wellbeing terms. We investigate these to understand which dimensions underpinning energy poverty are represented in indicator selection and how practices of energy use are captured. We find that global north publications still skew towards measuring affordability dimensions while global south publications skew towards measuring access indicators. That is, publications with similar framing utilise very different measurement approaches. Considering practices of energy use, we find that these are often captured only by technology access, not in ways that address whether a household is using energy services sufficient to flourish. We saw no examples of entertainment, IT, and refrigeration being measured in terms of benefit, and these energy services are measured most frequently in the global south. The limited measurement of benefit from practices in energy use remains a large and critical gap in understanding whether people are getting what they need from energy, and our findings suggest that there are regional differences in the visibility of energy underconsumption. The growing use of wellbeing terminology without accompanying breadth of measurement indicators may further obscure differences in energy poverty experiences internationally.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48384,"journal":{"name":"Energy Research & Social Science","volume":"133 ","pages":"Article 104583"},"PeriodicalIF":7.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147401616","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Climate change, extractivist infrastructure and environmental conflicts at the Northern Sea-Polar Silk Road intersection","authors":"Ksenija Hanaček ,&nbsp;Elia Apostolopoulou ,&nbsp;Markus Kröger ,&nbsp;Sujai Banerji ,&nbsp;Alexander Dunlap ,&nbsp;Arielle Landau ,&nbsp;Joan Martinez-Alier","doi":"10.1016/j.erss.2026.104600","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.erss.2026.104600","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study employs a political ecology lens to analyze the interconnections between extractive and infrastructural developments, reported climate change impacts and the experiences of affected communities in socio-environmental conflicts along the Northern Sea-Polar Silk Road. Python programming was employed to process Network Common Data Form (NetCDF) datasets, generating density information on ship movements and applying logarithmic scaling to capture both sparse ship activity in remote areas and high concentrations in key traffic zones. The findings reveal a notable increase in infrastructure developments and areas of concentrated maritime traffic, including existing projects such as Yamal LNG or the newly emerging Vostok mega‑carbon complex. This research offers critical insights into the intersections of climate change and infrastructure-led development corridors, with important implications for Indigenous Peoples and local environmental justice organizations. The results underscore the need to address the colonial dimensions of socio-environmental transformations, especially in the context of the climate crisis that is reshaping both the polar region and global systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48384,"journal":{"name":"Energy Research & Social Science","volume":"133 ","pages":"Article 104600"},"PeriodicalIF":7.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147401618","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Additional value of multi-city pilot projects in achieving climate neutrality – Lessons from the EU cities mission","authors":"Justyna Maliszewska-Nienartowicz,&nbsp;Joanna Modrzyńska","doi":"10.1016/j.erss.2026.104586","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.erss.2026.104586","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The paper investigates six multi-city pilot projects realised within the EU Mission for Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities to test innovative solutions for climate neutrality. It is based on public documents and semi-structured interviews with representatives of municipalities participating in these projects. The main finding is that multi-city pilot activities generate additional value compared to individual ones, as they enable addressing complex urban challenges in cooperation and offer opportunities for optimising resources. Knowledge sharing plays a key role at all stages, from the planning phase through implementation and follow-up works, since the exchange of experience is crucial for the success of the common projects. However, there are also certain barriers to implementing multi-city pilot activities, such as improper coordination across cities or bureaucratic requirements for reporting. Similarly, although the possibility of replicating developed solutions in other cities is an important aspect of all pilot activities, it requires genuine cooperation and engagement.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48384,"journal":{"name":"Energy Research & Social Science","volume":"133 ","pages":"Article 104586"},"PeriodicalIF":7.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146175094","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Hidden movers in the wind farm: Functional stakeholders improving offshore wind development in Taiwan","authors":"Yi Chang ,&nbsp;Yi-Ping Hung ,&nbsp;Tung-Yao Hsu ,&nbsp;Jen-Han Yang ,&nbsp;Wei-Ju Huang ,&nbsp;Liang-Chin Chi ,&nbsp;De-Jung Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.erss.2026.104608","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.erss.2026.104608","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The increasing demand for clean energy has exacerbated conflicts between fishermen and offshore wind energy developers worldwide, particularly in coastal regions. This study explores the perspectives of fishermen, developers, and government authorities on offshore wind power (OWP) projects in Taiwan. Data were collected through direct observations at stakeholder workshops and semistructured interviews with key participants. Results highlight that fishermen prioritize sustaining fishing activities within OWP zones over relying solely on compensation. Effective engagement requires fishermen's associations to consult developers and officials. The key priorities include developing a coexistence plan for fisheries and OWP projects, establishing fair compensation standards, and implementing vocational training programs. Legislative support for spatial zoning within OWP waters under the national spatial plan is also critical. Finally, genuine consultations by fishermen's associations build trust, foster acceptance, and resolve conflicts, thereby accelerating OWP project progress. This study proposes an operational framework to enhance OWP policymaking, emphasizing that (1) functional stakeholders should establish an effective communication platform; (2) empathetic consultations can help developers prioritize stakeholders' livelihoods and coexistence strategies; and (3) legislative measures are essential for spatial planning, and compensation standards should be implemented by central authorities.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48384,"journal":{"name":"Energy Research & Social Science","volume":"133 ","pages":"Article 104608"},"PeriodicalIF":7.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146175092","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Minerals-for-peace or naked extractivism? Trump and resource imperialism in Ukraine","authors":"Raphael Deberdt ,&nbsp;Philippe Le Billon","doi":"10.1016/j.erss.2026.104599","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.erss.2026.104599","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In this article, we identify new U.S. resource geopolitics under President Trump. Taking the example of the Ukraine ‘Minerals Deal’, we point at a form of ‘naked extractivism’ that does not seek to legitimize itself through forms of public justification other than transactional power relations. While sharing many of the other political, social, and environmental dimensions of extractivism, it justifies itself through blunt narratives of rightful exploitation and domination, rather than poverty alleviation or climate benefits, as for the cases of ‘neoextractivism’ and ‘green extractivism’, respectively. Based on an analysis of grey literature and executive power documents, this article addresses the various iterations of this ‘deal’ as they align with a transactional geopolitical strategy in which bullying and a blurry relationship to truth have become defining features. Cast in the long shadow of material tributary orders, resource imperialisms, and the exploitative logics of colonial ‘protectorates’, the Deal instruments both geological imaginaries and geopolitical leverage for the purpose of domestic political gains – in this case Trump's defense of “U.S. taxpayers” and fight back against Chinese dominance in the critical minerals sectors. We find that the tension between isolationism and a growing imperialism – at least in narrative – defines Trump's geopolitical standing. These opposing strategies nevertheless are inscribed in the President's America First policy and favor increasingly aggressive behavior towards allies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48384,"journal":{"name":"Energy Research & Social Science","volume":"133 ","pages":"Article 104599"},"PeriodicalIF":7.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146175091","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Can intelligent Renewable Energy Communities deliver on equity for a just energy transition? A policy oriented demonstrator analysis","authors":"T. Fonseca ,&nbsp;C. Sousa ,&nbsp;L. Ferreira ,&nbsp;P. Rodrigues ,&nbsp;P. Paiva ,&nbsp;R. Venâncio ,&nbsp;R. Severino ,&nbsp;L. Matos","doi":"10.1016/j.erss.2026.104584","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.erss.2026.104584","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Renewable Energy Communities (RECs) hold potential for enhancing local energy flexibility and supporting a just energy transition. Yet most operate without intelligent coordination, limiting technical performance and raising concerns over fairness and the distribution of benefits. This study examines both the performance and equity dimensions of RECs by combining a critical review of technical, regulatory, and social barriers with simulation-based analysis of a real-world demonstrator developed in the EU-funded OPEVA project. Using real consumption and generation data, we model baseline, rule-based, and intelligent coordination scenarios, as well as expansion cases that integrate additional batteries or EV chargers into underserved households, setting to answer these two questions: Who benefits most from current and future deployments of flexibility technologies? And how can REC systems be expanded to not only aggregate performance gains but also equitable and fair outcomes for all participants? Results show that intelligent control reduces community-level peak demand, ramping, and energy costs while improving renewable self-consumption. However, these benefits are unevenly distributed, concentrated among participants already equipped with flexible assets or with higher demand. Expansion scenarios improve both technical performance and fairness, but inequities persist without deliberate policy intervention. We conclude with open challenges and propose policy and technical measures to ensure that RECs deliver not only efficiency gains but also just and inclusive outcomes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48384,"journal":{"name":"Energy Research & Social Science","volume":"133 ","pages":"Article 104584"},"PeriodicalIF":7.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146175217","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The quest for lithium production in the United States: The crucial role of communities","authors":"Shannon Halinski,&nbsp;Kelly Lynn Anderson,&nbsp;David Young,&nbsp;John A. Rupp,&nbsp;John D. Graham","doi":"10.1016/j.erss.2026.104565","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.erss.2026.104565","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>U.S. politicians have established a new national policy to expand lithium production to neutralize China's dominant position in the global marketplace. However, lithium mines have faced some resistance from communities on the ground. This article reports on four case studies in the U.S. where communities have reacted to new or expanded lithium development. Building on the Social License to Operate framework, we find that the following factors are influencing community reactions: mistrust of developers, threats to places of historical, cultural, and/or spiritual significance to indigenous communities, concerns about impacts on scarce water resources, and eagerness to harness the economic development that mining can offer. We conclude that policy makers and developers should go beyond consultation, as presently practiced, and explore innovative ways to collaborate with communities and share more of the benefits of mining with communities.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48384,"journal":{"name":"Energy Research & Social Science","volume":"133 ","pages":"Article 104565"},"PeriodicalIF":7.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147401613","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Finding the way: The situated practice of forging alternative energy futures in two former European coalmining communities","authors":"Cille Kaiser,&nbsp;James Patterson","doi":"10.1016/j.erss.2026.104613","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.erss.2026.104613","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Former coalmining communities are often portrayed as regressive and/or resistant to change due to deep dependence on carbon-intensive systems. Emerging research highlights the (latent) potential of post-coal affordances as endogenous social or material features that can create new political possibilities for such communities. However, affordances do not always translate into action, and post-coal transitions within and across Europe exhibit mixed experiences. Therefore, we examine how communities negotiate and navigate new possibilities through processes of wayfinding, spanning institutional, cultural, and everyday practices. We comparatively examine the towns of Loos-en-Gohelle (France) and Whitehaven (England), which, despite their shared coalmining pasts, are evolving in very different directions. Based on 49 semi-structured interviews and detailed field observations, we find that these practices refract within complex and fractious political settings, where industrial capture, governmental neglect, and persistent socio-economic inequalities can confine possibilities for action. We thereby demonstrate that the capacity for change is a product of ongoing political work both within and outside these communities. This enriches existing work on post-coal affordances by drawing attention to the social and political dynamics involved in their mobilization, thereby highlighting their contingency.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48384,"journal":{"name":"Energy Research & Social Science","volume":"133 ","pages":"Article 104613"},"PeriodicalIF":7.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147401617","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"How much travel is enough? Minimum levels for sustainable mobility: A systematic literature review","authors":"Marte Peeters ,&nbsp;Tine Compernolle ,&nbsp;Soukaina Anougmar ,&nbsp;Gwenny Thomassen","doi":"10.1016/j.erss.2026.104580","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.erss.2026.104580","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The transport sector accounts for around 20% of global carbon dioxide emissions, with passenger ground transport responsible for a substantial share. At the same time, mobility is essential for accessing goods, services, and social participation. This creates a central challenge for sustainable transitions: how can emissions related to passenger ground transport be reduced without undermining human well-being? The concept of a sustainable consumption corridor provides a framework that distinguishes a lower boundary representing the minimum level of goods and services required for well-being, and an upper ecological ceiling of consumption. While research on sustainable transport has largely focused on environmental limits, far less attention has been paid to defining a social floor of mobility. This paper presents a systematic literature review of studies that conceptualize and operationalize minimum levels of mobility provision in relation to human well-being. The review focuses on passenger ground transport. Three research questions guide the analysis: <em>(1) How is the relationship between the mobility provisioning system and well-being conceptualized? (2) Which indicators define a minimum level for the mobility provisioning system? and (3) Which threshold values can be used to establish this minimum level for the mobility provisioning system?</em> Objective approaches, often grounded in human needs theory or decent living standards, attempt to define a social floor using indicators related to mobility, accessibility, affordability, and transport-related externalities. However, these studies show limited consistency in indicator selection and threshold values, which are frequently generalized and weakly linked to cultural and contextual differences. Subjective well-being approaches, by contrast, focus on individual experiences and self-reported outcomes such as life satisfaction and travel satisfaction. While these studies do not define explicit sufficiency thresholds, they shed light on how mobility systems shape everyday experiences and on potential barriers for reducing travel demand. The review highlights the lack of consensus on what constitutes a sufficient level of passenger mobility for well-being. It argues for a dual strategy that combines expert-defined indicators with participatory and context-sensitive approaches, integrating objective thresholds with subjective experiences. Such an approach can support the development of socially just and environmentally sustainable mobility provisioning systems aligned with human needs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48384,"journal":{"name":"Energy Research & Social Science","volume":"133 ","pages":"Article 104580"},"PeriodicalIF":7.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146175080","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}