Risk Governance for Energy Transition (Project Cluster)
In face of today’s climate and energy challenges, transition to an energy system that is based on renewable energy and other low-carbon alternatives is essential. Yet, deployment of such alternatives poses risks. Installation and operation of deep geothermal systems or carbon capture and storage may induce seismicity. Hydropower expansion is vulnerable to gravitational instabilities and floods. Risk governance is thus an essential component of wise decision making for enabling the required energy transition. Engineering and natural science perspectives to risk are not enough, because society plays a major role in perceiving, mitigating, adapting, tolerating, monitoring, and bearing the potential impacts of risks. Risk governance for energy thus requires a transdisciplinary approach and, given the limited research in this area, offers a unique setting for developing transdisciplinary processes and concepts.
This project cluster includes five projects. All these projects encompass collaborations of energy experts, engineers, natural and social scientists, who aim to jointly develop a holistic risk governance framework to support energy- and risk-related decision making at science-society interface. This comprehensive framework is based on state-of-the-art risk assessment, energy systems modeling as well as on risk perception monitoring, risk communication, and development of suitable public and stakeholder engagement strategies.
WP5 Case studies (H2020)
- Time period: 2017–2020
- Scope: Conducting studies of public perception of CCS in order to provide insights into societal boundary conditions that should be taken into account when developing CCS systems.
- Contacts persons: Michael Stauffacher, Olivier Ejderyan
Regulatory, Political and Participatory Perspectives (Joint Activity SCCER-CREST & SCCER-SoE)
- Time period: 2017–2020
- Scope: Development of guidelines and recommendations for public engagement during authorization processes for deep geothermal energy and hydropower infrastructure in Switzerland.
- Additional information: external page SCCER web site
- Contact persons: Olivier Ejderyan, Selma L’Orange Seigo, Michael Stauffacher
- Time period: 2017–2020
- Scope: Analysis of the processes that contribute to embed geothermal energy in the Genevan territory in order to develop tools to support informed and democratic public engagement procedures.
- Contact persons: Olivier Ejderyan, Franziska Ruef
WP3 Risk Management Workflows for Deep Geothermal Energy (H2020)
- Time period: 2016–2020
- Scope: Evaluate public acceptability in various socioeconomic conditions in Europe to develop a risk governance strategy.
- Additional information: external page DESTRESS web site
- Contact person: Olivier Ejderyan
- Time period: 2013–2020
- Scope: Development of the holistic risk governance framework and its demonstration for deep geothermal systems, hydropower, and carbon capture and storage in Switzerland.
- Additional information: external page SCCER-SoE web site
- Contact person: Evelina Trutnevyte, Olivier Ejderyan, Michael Stauffacher
"Geothermal Reservoir Processes: Towards the implementation of research into the creation and sustainable use of Enhanced Geothermal Systems"
- Time period: 2013–2016
- Scope: Development of research-informed and tailor-made risk communication and public and stakeholder engagement strategies for pilot projects of deep geothermal systems. Special focus is dedicated to analyzing public perception and crafting engagement strategies.
- Additional information: CCES web site
- Contact person: Michael Stauffacher, Olivier Ejderyan
- Time period: 2013–2014
- Scope: Synthesis of risk perception knowledge for deep geothermal systems and other contested energy infrastructures. Content analysis of media articles on deep geothermal in Switzerland, 1993–2013.
- Additional information: external page TA Swiss web site
- Contact person: Michael Stauffacher