24th May 2018 – Valorization meeting

The first valorization panel meeting took place in Groningen, May 24^th. The research teams presented their work to their project partners and valorization panel with the aim of getting some initial feedback on the work conducted so far, as well as to stimulate discussion and reflection within the group present. We were glad to see some interesting discussions emerging during the meeting, in which the diversity of opinions and perspectives of the panel members was made explicit.

The research team first presented the aim of the project, including a general overview of the combined research approach. Subsequently, Irene Maltagliati (RUG) presented her project on how individual and institutional factors influence public evaluation of gas development. She also presented the results of a qualitative study. Interviews has been conducted with stakeholders from companies, academia, environmental NGOs, municipalities and Dutch government). The aim of the study was to understand how different stakeholders a) evaluate the gas developments b) think about the role of the public in the decision-making around gas c) think about which factors influence public acceptability of gas developments.

Toyah Rodhouse (TUD) presented her conceptual framework. She first talked about the idea of energy futures on gas: collectively held visions of a realistic and desirable future for gas sources, technologies, systems and institutions for gas. At the moment, various conflicting futures for gas exist within decision- and policymaking on gas in the Netherlands. She continued to propose that one of the factors that impact what futures are seen as desirable and realistic by groups of actors is the public – or rather, how the public, its identity, role, responsibility and attitude become perceived by gas actors. Her theoretical work has led her to propose the relationship between energy futures and perceived publics is two-way – namely, publics also become perceived through the lens of energy futures. For her empirical work she wants to explore the ways in which energy futures and perceived publics are entangled and influence each other, including what implications this has for (responsible) decision-making.

The meeting ended with a general discussion on how the knowledge of these two projects can be incorporated by stakeholders’ in their daily practice. Inputs and suggestions were provided by the project members regarding new concepts and issues to explore. One particularly relevant comment that was made by a number of participants was the need for a holistic view on the Dutch energy system. While our research is about Responsible decision-making on gas, we cannot only focus on this one source in an interconnected, complex and multi-sourced energy system.