Script Tales from a Rural Participatory Research Process

Critical Reflections from Co-Designing Energy Transitions

Abstract

This article critically reflects on a participatory research and co-design process within rural energy transitions, focusing on energy citizenship in the small town of Overhalla in Norway. Based on Citizen Action Labs (CALs) - as a participatory co-design tool - this article is a retrospective methodological reflection that addresses the research question: How are expectations of a more participatory energy transition enacted in a rural community? The paper aims to understand the limits of participatory research and co-design processes and problematise the idea of energy citizenship as a desirable form of participation in a rural context. The research highlights rural areas’ unique challenges and opportunities, contrasting them with urban-centric approaches often prevalent in participatory research and co-design processes. Through the lens of script theory, the study illustrates how urban-focused ideals may be misaligned with various rural realities, as evidenced by differing responses to energy citizenship frameworks. Key findings underscore the necessity for context-specific participatory methods that accommodate diverse rural areas’ distinct social, spatial, and economic landscapes and resources. This work contributes to expanding and nuance our understanding of how rural communities can actively participate in sustainable energy transitions, emphasizing the need for tailored approaches in participatory research and co-design processes.