Energie Reduzum and MICA
The Human Side of the Energy Transition
The shift to renewable energy is often about technology, systems, and infrastructure. But ultimately, the transition is about people. What does a local energy system mean for residents? How does sharing and using energy within a community work? And how do you make clear what lies behind complex concepts and technical choices? In Energie in Balans , we explore how visual media can help make these themes accessible through stories told by residents for residents and other stakeholders.
Stories That Make Energy Visible
For this project, master’s students from NHL Stenden worked on a photo series and a short film about the initiative in Reduzum. In addition, alumni from Firda Audiovisual and the Associate Degree in Creative Media Professional program contributed to the presentation of the project during a Demo Day. Jurjoes Media produced a video in which members of the energy cooperative share their experiences. This creates a story that begins with the people working together toward a sustainable future for their village—rather than with the technology itself.
By giving residents, initiative organizers, and experts a voice, we can see what the energy transition means in practice—as something that affects people’s daily lives. This gives an abstract policy issue a “face.”
In collaboration with the municipality of Leeuwarden, the Reduzum Energy Cooperative, NEDbalans, and various educational and media partners, the MICA Lab for Transition Communication is investigating how communication can contribute to an energy transition that is both understandable and widely supported.
Research in Practice
For the MICA Lab, this project is an example of transition communication in action. Together with our partners, we are exploring how visual communication and storytelling contribute to an energy transition that is technically feasible and socially supported.
Initial experiences show that visuals and personal stories help bring the conversation about energy closer to people’s everyday lives. While technical systems can sometimes remain abstract, photos, videos, and real-life experiences spark recognition and curiosity. This is how we aim to start the conversation and keep it going.
Personal stories have proven to be an important way to make complex topics understandable and open to discussion. That’s not surprising, is it? As a result, the project not only provides communication tools but also offers insights into the role of communication in societal transitions.
Small Stories, Big Movements
The energy transition is often described in policy documents using statistics and plans. In Reduzum, we see that change also begins with stories—especially conversations and real-life examples. By bringing these stories to light, we create space for engagement. And that is where the power—and the challenge—of transition communication lies.
In a nutshell
Transition
From Fossil Fuels to Renewables
Partners
City of Leeuwarden • Reduzum Energy Cooperative • NEDbalans • NHL Stenden • Firda Alumni • JurjoesMedia • MICA Lab for Transition Communication
Theme
Energy Transition, Participation, Storytelling, and Transition Communication
Issue
How can we make complex energy issues understandable and relevant to residents?
Finding
Initial experiences show that personal stories and visual communication help bring abstract energy issues closer to residents’ everyday lives.
Status
Ongoing project within Energie in Balans.
Photos by Naomi Schokkin
