Systemic planning and modelling of the energy transition

The originality of this research project lies in its exploration of electricity network planning developed in collaboration with local residents. This interdisciplinary approach combines engineering sciences (physical modelling) and participatory sciences (the mobilisation of local expertise). The core of the thesis focuses on the evolution of planning methods. The dominant approach, based on the promise of a strictly technical solution, is reaching its limits in the face of demands for energy efficiency and the integration of renewable energy sources. Technology conceived as a ‘black box’, rendering energy issues invisible, is no longer sufficient for thinking about the network. Rather than keeping technology and experts on one side and society on the other, the philosopher Bruno Latour invites us to ‘bring the world we live in closer to the world where we live’. This is precisely the aim of a participatory approach to planning.