In
this
paper,
we
put
forward
the
notion
of
“energy
sovereignty
from
below”
to
reflect
on
visions
and
practices
territorial
movements
mobilizing
around
corporate
energy
projects
for
reclaiming
control
over
definition,
modalities,
scales
a
just
socioecological
transition.
Based
comparative
engagement
with
cases
Puerto
Rico
Catalonia,
first,
explore
how
organize
challenge
undesired
impacts
projects,
paying
specific
attention
their
struggles
are
grounded
in
defense
land/territory
claims
against
multiple
forms
colonialism
extractivism.
Second,
examine
self-provision
initiatives,
including
community-owned
renewable
projects—as
concrete
manifestations
below—to
understand
what
extent
these
contribute
empower
movements,
create
solidarities,
provide
prefigurative
alternatives
corporate-controlled
transitions.
Comparing
two
provides
opportunities
South/North
dialogue
meaning
sovereignty,
commonalities
differences
conditions
priorities
struggles,
complexities
applying
framework
colonialism/sovereignty”
global
North
countries.
This
paper
explores
historical
and
current
grassroots
energy
practices
in
Gulu,
Northern
Uganda,
focusing
on
low-
middle-income
communities,
the
socio-technical
networks
developed
over
decades,
their
socio-territorial
impacts.
By
examining
circulation
of
used
car
batteries
role
battery
repairers,
study
highlights
disconnect
between
government-led
transition
narratives
construction
infrastructure
Uganda.
analysis
sheds
light
global
dominance
models
driven
by
technological
innovation
market
logic.
In
a
context
significant
distributional
inequality,
emphasizes
available
storage
options
and,
more
importantly,
local
solutions
devised
off-grid
urban
populations
to
power
versatile
electric
lives.
Despite
diversity
solar
technologies,
batteries,
integrated
with
other
system
components,
remain
viable
sustainable
option
for
segments
populations.
The
focuses
maintenance
low-tech
ingenuity
“Doctor
Battery”
repairers
offer
situated
critique
diverse
forms
southern
cities.
The
hegemonic
energy
transition
continues
to
be
guided
by
techno-managerial
principles,
without
questioning
the
role
of
caring
about
transformations
and
broader
issues
socio-natural
relationships.
In
contrast,
Lickanantay
communities
in
northern
Chile
have
been
producing
Atacama
Desert
as
an
abundant
sacred
‘desertscape’,
offering
other
ways
understand
how
care
world
many
worlds
we
inhabit.
By
drawing
on
these
anti-colonial
frameworks,
political
ecology,
feminist
ethics,
this
paper
contributes
thinking
Puig
de
la
Bellacasa's
notion
‘matters
care’
(2017)
Indigenous
Andean
understanding
vincularidad
challenge
which
transitions
are
thought
practiced.
Based
a
year
ethnography
Loa
province,
article
shows
that
contrast
‘desolate-scape’
built
colonial
capitalism,
‘desertscape’
offers
examples
‘how
reclaim
restore
worlds.
Geographica Helvetica,
Год журнала:
2025,
Номер
80(2), С. 99 - 107
Опубликована: Апрель 3, 2025
Abstract.
This
introduction
presents
the
fields
of
peripheries,
conflicts
and
transformations
as
core
topics
critical
energy
geographies.
These
point
to
different
ways
how
provision
is
interwoven
with
social
inequalities
uneven
spatial
development.
Tackling
relations
between
technology
power,
contributions
this
Theme
Issue
highlight
power
resistance
unfold
in
contexts
are
linked
various
notions
justice.
Environment and Planning C Politics and Space,
Год журнала:
2025,
Номер
unknown
Опубликована: Апрель 14, 2025
Green
hydrogen
is
often
presented
as
a
transformative
solution
to
the
dual
challenges
of
decarbonization
and
economic
development.
This
article
applies
framework
climate
necropolitics
interrogate
contested
spatialities
underlying
such
“win-win”
narratives.
It
does
so
through
an
extended
case
study
Hyphen
Hydrogen
Energy,
$10
billion
green
project
planned
for
Lüderitz,
Namibia.
A
remote
town
20,000
in
country
with
$12
annual
GDP,
Lüderitz
initially
appears
be
unlikely
host
site
“industrial
fuel
future.”
To
explain
this
outcome,
I
first
illustrate
how
discordant
socio-spatial
projects—including
European
energy
security,
Namibian
industrialization,
(sub)national
developmentalism—have
shaped
both
emergence
legitimation
construction
abstracted
space
realization
external
ambitions.
then
draw
on
interviews,
focus
groups,
ethnographic
encounters
residents
place
these
projects
specific
context
Lüderitz.
My
analysis
demonstrates
local
interpretations
are
not
by
abstract
promises
abundance
decarbonized
development,
but
instead
concrete
experiences
extractive
violence
displaced
decarbonization.
Analyzing
findings
necropolitics,
argue
that
similar
mega-projects
enabled
varied
at
times
contradictory
serve
legitimize
displace
costs
outcome
inevitable
though—energy
transitions
can
otherwise,
perspectives
consider
how.
conclude
discussing
implications
efforts
pursue
more
equitable,
just,
place-based
low-carbon
futures.
