Participatory practices in the energy transition in Italy. For a co-productive, situated and relational analysis

The aim of this paper is to analyze emerging forms of participation in energy transition processes in Italy, with a specific focus on energy communities. The theoretical-methodological framework used to develop this analysis is the relational STS (Science Technology Society) approach, which considers the phenomenon of participation in ecological energy transition from the perspective of co-construction in social, economic, political and cultural contexts. On the basis of this theoretical framework and in light of the major changes in energy markets and systems in recent decades, the analysis focuses on two main participation trends related to energy communities, corresponding to two actor-network “models” in Italy. Following this more general analysis, the paper goes on to analyze a more specific case study of an energy community in a marginal neighbourhood in Messina (Southern Italy). This case can be seen as just one example of similar processes, some of which are already underway, that could potentially be developed in vulnerable areas of southern Italy in the coming years. These areas are also an object of interest for public policies, which seek to halt the phenomenon of depopulation in some of the more internal areas or to promote the urban regeneration of marginal neighbourhoods, and to stimulate development based on the role of local communities as well as economic, environmental and social sustainability.