Now open for application
Closed for application
Scolarship code CU4.14

Models, methods, and indicators for the social impacts assessment of the hydrogen deployment

  • Reference person
    Dario
    Padovan
    dario.padovan@unito.it
  • Host University/Institute
    Università degli Studi di Torino
  • Internship
    N
  • Research Keywords
    Energy transition
    Social impact
    Hydrogen technology
  • Reference ERCs
    SH3_14 Social studies of science and technology
    SH7_6 Environmental and climate change, societal impact and policy
  • Reference SDGs
    GOAL 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
    GOAL 9: Industry Innovation and Infrastructure
    GOAL 13: Climate Action
  • Studente
  • Supervisor
  • Co-Supervisor

Description

The project intends to investigate the social impacts of the energy transition. If not well managed and planned the energy transition might imply inequalities and conflicts between social groups and economic sectors. The change towards new modes of organizing energy implies the definition of WHAT the new system will be, HOW that transformation is carried out and WHO will be the beneficiaries or the payers of this process. The proposal focuses on “Social Impact Assessment” perspective that includes the analysing and monitoring the intended and unintended social consequences, both positive and negative, of planned interventions (policies, programs, plans, projects) of the transition towards the large-scale deployment of renewable hydrogen and hydrogen related technologies. The project is aimed to the following objectives: 1) the identification of the main theories of socio-technical change and impact and how these are incorporated into energy transition policies; 2) Analysis of the main social implications of the deployment of renewable hydrogen within the energy transition in terms of way of life, well-being, inequalities; 3) The development of a kit of methods necessary to identify and evaluate the social impact of hydrogen related technologies deployment: Social LCA, Rational Planning, Participatory Impact Assessment; 4) An analysis of renewable energy policies – with a focus on hydrogen - of cities and regions to identify their potential social implications and impacts.

Suggested skills:

Competences required:Quantitative and qualitative social research competencesPreliminary competences in the social aspects of energy transitionPreliminary competencies on the sociology of justice, inequalities and conflictsPreliminary competences on the Social Impact Assessment methodologies

Research team and environment

The PhD candidate will find an extremely innovative and creative environment in which to carry on her/his research activity. Our research environment is made by the following organization: Unesco Chair in Sustainable development and territory management; CENTRE FOR INTERUNIVERSITY RESEARCH ON SOCIO-ECOLOGICAL CHANGES AND SUSTAINABLE TRANSITION - CRISIS; Interuniversity School on Ecology, politics, and society; Culture of Sustainability Journal.