Stimulating sustainable energy systems requires innovation of societal systems through which human needs such as for energy are being satisfied. The learning module ‘Social Innovation and Transition in Energy’ (SITEP) takes you on a dedicated journey along some essential assets of such endeavour: systemic thinking, envisioning, innovative partnerships and new business models. In a strongly interactive way, you will discover new possibilities to make your own sustainable energy efforts and projects more effectively contribute to the systemic transformation of the energy system.
Programme: This new course on social innovation and transition in energy offers an explicitly action-oriented approach that provides the graduates with the required capabilities to reorient energy projects and practices and set them on a sustainability transition path.
SITEP starts from the participants’ sustainable energy practices and projects and focuses more specifically on encountered obstacles and barriers in their daily work. SITEP is based on the ‘learning-by-doing’ method: issues requiring theoretical framing are derived from participants’ cases; theoretical notions are then employed to enrich the case perception and to develop innovative solutions.
Systemic transformation of the energy systems requires new, more sustainable energy production and consumption patterns. That implies not only the need for innovative technologies, but in fact, a radical change of the entire societal system through which provision and consumption of energy occur. That entails: new structures, new cultures and new practices. In order to effectively contribute to such transitions, involved stakeholders need a number of specific competences and skills.
Aided by the theoretical frameworks, SITEP explains and helps operationalise four major system innovation essentials: Systemic perspective: a critical skill that helps to acknowledge technological and societal changes in the way societies consume and produce energy. Systemic view of energy facilitates the development of win-win type of game-changing solutions;
Envisioning : an asset that helps develop coherent future guidance connecting short-term actions with long-term visions;
Innovative collaborations and partnerships: enablers of smart combinations of skills, expertise and resources; New business models: create multiple values and incorporate collaboration and visioning for sustainability.
Source: eit
