Repoliticising Users in Energy Transitions: A Critique of Dominant Ideas and Their Effect in Policy and Practice

Jul 10, 2026

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Energy studies in energy transitions are dominated by engineering- and economics-based, reductive assumptions about people in energy systems, often sidelining the diversity and agency of local energy users. This conceptual review critiques simplistic and idealised portrayals of energy users, clarifying who they are and what roles they are assigned in transformation. Using framing as an analytical tool, it foregrounds power relationships and injustice through critical theory—including feminist, intersectional, decolonial and indigenous power perspectives—contrasting dominant concepts with alternative views. It identifies knowledge gaps and proposes user-oriented interventions to embrace heterogeneity, messiness and politics in low-carbon transitions.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages15

Reading Time38 min

Introduction

User-centred energy transition visions

Dominant framings of prosumers and behaviour change

Universalist policy frameworks (e.g., SDGs)

Energy Research & Social Science 138 (2026) 104814 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Energy Research & Social Science journal [homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/erss](homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/erss) | Review Repoliticising users in energy transitions: A critique of dominant ideas and their effect in policy and practice | | | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Helene Ahlborg a,* , Olufolahan Osunmuyiwa a,b , Joy S. Clancy c , Niall P. Dunphy d,e , Marielle Feenstra c , Sylv`ere Hategekimana a,f, Beatrix Hausner g, Kate Hooper h, Martin Hultmani , Breffní Lennon d,e , Kavya Michael a , Alexandra Revez e , Sam Unsworth a,j , Anna Åberg a a Department of Technology Management and Economics, Chalmers University of Technology, 412 96, Gothenburg, Sweden b nLine Inc, 2686 Shasta Rd, Berkeley, California, United States c 75inQ, Institute Inclusive Energy Transition, Stationsplein 45, 3013, AK, Rotterdam, the Netherlands d School of Engineering & Architecture, University College Cork, Ellen Hutchins Building, Lee Rd., Cork, T23 XE10, Ireland e Sustainability Institute, University College Cork, Ellen Hutchins Building, Lee Rd., Cork, T23 XE10, Ireland f College of Science and Technology (CST), University of Rwanda, PoBox 3900, Kigali, Rwanda g Austrian Society for Environment and Technology (¨OGUT), Hollandstraße 10/46, 1020, Vienna, Austria h The Carbon Trust, 255 Blackfriars Road, London, SE1 9AX, United Kingdom i Department of Sociology and Work science, University of Gothenburg, Box 720 405 30, Gothenburg, Sweden j Institute for Sustainable Resources, University College London, London, WC1H 0NN, United Kingdom | | | | | A R T I C L E I N F O | | A B S T R A C T | | | Keywords: Energy users Framing Critical theory Transition politics Power Equity | | Energy studies as a field is, due to its strong grounding in engineering and economics, overall dominated by reductive ideas around the role of people in energy systems. In particular, the diversity and agency of local level energy users is commonly overlooked and poorly understood, with consequences for energy transition policy and practice. This conceptual review brings together critiques of simplistic and idealised portrayals of energy users, who they are and what roles they are thought to play in energy system transformation. It forefronts studies that pay explicit attention to power relationships and injustice through a critical theory lens, in particular feminists, intersectional, decolonial and indigenous power theories. The review deconstructs the concept of energy user and contrasts such dominant ideas with alternative perspectives. It employs framing as analytical tool for sensemaking and reflection around the power relationships that have shaped how global energy systems function and the role of the users in reshaping, resisting and reframing these systems. The conceptual analysis illustrates the myriad ways in which energy users can be framed and shows why these representations matter for knowledgemaking, practice and policy aiming at low-carbon transitions. We identify current knowledge gaps and future research frontiers in proposing framings and user-oriented interventions which embrace rather than smooth over the heterogeneity, messiness and politics of user roles in energy systems and transitions. | | 1. Introduction Envisioned roles for domestic and community-level energy users lieat the heart of many user-centred energy studies concerned with processes of sectoral change. This includes for example supporting a political direction towards lower emissions; adopting low-carbon technological innovations; or making substantial changes in everyday life to curb energy use. In some future visions, energy users, operating community energy models and decentralized systems, play important transformative roles in facilitating the scale of transitions desired through collectivist actions, building energy communities and

FAQs

Why does the review argue that energy research often misunderstands local energy users?

Energy studies are described as dominated by reductive engineering and economics ideas, leading to overlooked diversity and limited understanding of users’ agency at the local level.

What does the review contribute to the debate on energy user roles in transitions?

It offers a conceptual critique of how energy users are portrayed, deconstructing the concept of “energy user” and contrasting dominant ideas with alternative perspectives that account for power and injustice.

How does the review use “framing” in its analysis?

Framing is employed as an analytical tool for sensemaking and reflection on how power relationships have shaped global energy systems and the roles of users in reshaping, resisting, and reframing them.

Jul 10, 2026

Upload by Levi