Net Zero Energy Transition in Rural Landscapes: A Study into the Interface between Technology, Livelihood, and Climate

This project aims to bridge the gap in knowledge regarding net-zero energy transitions and
energy justice in rural India. India with its geographical, cultural and topographical diversity, remains at a critical point in progressing a net-zero energy transition that is just. A key set of geographical issues that require further research concern the ways that rural communities are implicated in this transition processes
due to i) India's demographic spread in terms of social, economic and cultural institutions in various
regions ii) the impact (both positive and negative) of renewable energy generation such as solar and
wind energy on rural landholdings, livelihood and social beliefs and customs; and iii) the lack of
coordination between stakeholders such as the local governments, the residents and the project
developers. This research, using practice-based 'user-inspired and 'user useful' approaches incorporating
both scientific and local/indigenous knowledge (Reed, 2008; Cowling et al., 2008) will assess the impacts of renewable energy development on rural communities and livelihoods in India and develop tools, using local knowledge for engaging communities, to achieve socially-just renewable energy transitions.