Gendered sociotechnical imaginaries: Understanding the role of masculinities in Portugal's pursuit of multi-scalar solar energy transitions

Abstract

Solar energy advocates increasingly draw attention to solar PV technologies as a vehicle for achieving greater local autonomy, inclusivity, and democracy. A future energy system may take many forms, but with the current system being male-dominated, and gender being a central factor in shaping societal values, we argue that ideas derived from different forms of masculine value systems are likely to be reproduced in the solar PV rollout. Thus, it is necessary to ascertain how gender co-shapes sociotechnical imaginaries that are used to legitimize different transition pathways. In this study, we draw on data from fieldworks in Portugal between 2022 and 2023, including 50 semi-structured interviews. We find that Portugal has two major and different solar-specific imaginaries, each drawing on different forms of masculinities. Simultaneously, each competing imaginary perpetuates a different set of societal expectations related to the masculinity it represents, and along with this, legitimating different sets of expectations around public accountability, gender equality, democracy, and energy justice.