Actors networks in energy transitions: Controversies and possible paths in the Brazilian electricity sector

The global challenge of transitioning to low-carbon energy systems has gained prominence recently, particularly in emerging economies such as Brazil. The shift towards sustainable energy systems poses significant technological, social, ecological, and political challenges. Actor-Network Theory (ANT) offers a relational understanding of agency within sociotechnical systems, emphasizing the importance of controversies in shaping energy transitions. We explore the complex network of actors involved in these transitions, highlighting how their interactions influence the process's technological, political, and societal aspects. Supported by a combination of primary data from 13 semi-structured interviews and secondary data from 20 webinars, this paper examines how actors' relationships interfere with the paths of the Brazilian energy transition. Based on discussing controversy mapping, our findings underscore the significance of understanding the interplay between business, legal, technical, and societal arrangements in advancing sustainable energy systems. We conclude that its nature allows for corroborating the premise that different visions of reality coexist in relation to the same phenomenon. Economic, institutional, and social agents desire to reduce carbon emissions, but each has other ideas for achieving this goal.