How to inquire about energy transition processes?

Abstract

International audience ; This chapter introduces the aims and method of the book. It starts with the assumption that the current conduct of the energy transition raises issues of democracy and sets the book the task to address these by inquiring into actual energy transition processes. The chapter draws on the philosophy of pragmatism in outlining its inquiry, defined as an investigation based on a large set of case studies attending to the consequences of energy change processes so as to make these consequences explicit to actors. The chapter then explains how the book addresses the current conduct of the energy transition by inquiring into its key dimensions, namely making new energy resources, passing through markets, economic instruments, technological demonstration, and the spatialities and temporalities of energy transition processes.