This collection of reports forms part of the scoping work of the Energy Social Sciences and Humanities Innovation Forum Targeting the SET Plan (Energy-SHIFTS). The reports are based on four workshops held in Spring/Summer 2019, which brought together experts from the research and policy sectors to discuss four themes:
1. Social innovation in the energy transition;
2. Inclusive engagement in energy;
3. Carbon intensive EU regions; and
4. Use of evidence in energy policy.
This collection is comprised of four reports, one on each theme. Each workshop report includes a literature review; key findings from the workshop activities; and recommendations (including for the Energy-SHIFTS project, EU research policy, and other stakeholders). An Editorial introduces the collection and highlights the vital contributions of Social Sciences and Humanities to these topical energy policy debates.
These reports will be of value to researchers and policyworkers (both governmental and non- governmental) because they highlight the key debates, tensions and knowledge gaps within each thematic area, as well as synthesising new contributions from a range of experts. Building directly on these inputs, the reports offer useful proposals on challenges such as: up-scaling experimental social innovations; designing truly inclusive engagement into research and policy; integrating justice in energy transitions; and ensuring a much more meaningful role for Social Sciences and Humanities in energy policy-making.
