100 Social Sciences and Humanities priority research questions for renewable energy in Horizon Europe

This report presents 100 research questions that have been identified by scientific experts as key priorities for Social Science and Humanities (SSH) research on renewables, in order to inform and support EU-funded research and innovation leading to achieve climate-neutrality by 2050. The questions together aim: To promote SSH research that contributes to better understanding the meaning and conditions of just transitions to renewables-based energy systems, by recognising the social conditions and consequences of using and further implementing renewable energy technologies. These 100 priority questions are grouped into the following 11 themes. Note that the order of these themes does not indicate a ranking of themes and that overlaps may exist between the themes. 1. Transformative governance Questions address the aspects of guiding and navigating the fundamental changes from the existing fossil-dominated energy regime to a renewables- based energy system. 2. Culture, imaginaries, narratives Questions explore various cultural aspects of a transition towards a renewables-based energy system, such as the role of socio-technical imaginaries, learning and media discourses. 3. Social acceptance Questions address the factors shaping social acceptance for different renewable energy technologies and emphasise aspects of trust-building and citizen empowerment. 4. Energy democracy Questions consider aspects of democratising the energy system, relating to the potential of energy initiatives and structural conditions to foster transparency and participation. 5. Energy justice Questions deal with justice, equity and societal inclusion in the context of energy systems, addressing the facets of a fair transition process to renewables-based energy systems. 6. Financial and organisational structure Questions address the financial mechanisms, as well as the organisational conditions and dynamics, that influence the transition to a renewables-based energy system. 7. Socio-ecological effects Questions critically touch upon the impacts of socio-technical change towards a renewables- based energy system on ecosystems, biodiversity and landscapes. 8. Renewables policy Questions focus on public policy design, implementation and evaluation and look for evidence guiding multi-level policy-processes and decision-making on renewable energy. 9. Renewables system design and integration across sectors Questions focus on specific features of renewables system design and the integration of socio-technical configurations, as well as policies, across sectors and implementation contexts. 10. Geography of renewables Questions relate to the geographical differences of emerging energy transitions and address aspects related to localities of renewable energy systems in different contexts. 11. Power dynamics & conflicts Questions reflect the role of power dynamics and conflicts within energy transitions towards renewables, and also consider power relations between different types of actors. All 100 presented research questions were identified using a Horizon Scanning exercise, conducted between August 2019 – October 2020. We identified 30 SSH renewable energy experts from across Europe, encompassing diverse SSH disciplines, interdisciplinary experiences, genders, geographies, research interests and career stages, and involved them in a Working Group. The horizon scan surveys of this Group, and further affiliated experts (85 respondents in total), generated a list of 280 research questions. After an initial editing process, 279 revised questions were presented to the Working Group in a second survey, in order to be ranked according to their research priorities. The results of this second survey were discussed and reviewed during two virtual workshops among the Working Group members. This deliberative process led to creating a final list of 100 priority questions for SSH research on renewables, organised in 11 themes. This list is not intended to be exhaustive or exclusive, instead it aims towards opening up new perspectives for further discussions between policymakers, funders and researchers on how SSH evidence on renewables can best support transitions towards climate-neutrality and towards more just and equal societies