Notes #12/2024: In search of a vision
The views and opinions expressed in my notes do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of my employer or clients.
In search of a vision
Can you write down your vision of the energy transition? That was the question I received a few weeks ago from the corporate communications department. Naturally, I said yes. With two decades of professional experience and extensive knowledge in sustainability—especially in climate and energy transition, and with an opinion on everything, I certainly have something to say.
I work for BMC, one of the larger consulting and secondment firms serving the public sector in the Netherlands. BMC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Randstad, the world's largest human resource consulting and employment agency. Advisory services represent just a small part of this global company, and within that, our public sector advisory on the energy transition, which I lead, is an even smaller niche.
The focus on energy transition is also a relatively new venture for us, which may explain why the request for a vision by corporate communications was, in reality, more of a request for a succinct and safe blurb.
But I only realized that after I had drafted my first concept:
“The energy transition is a dynamic process full of uncertainties. It involves the development of new sustainable energy sources, the creation of more and smarter infrastructure, and the reduction of energy consumption, all within the limited space and time available. Moreover, the energy transition brings a shift in costs and benefits, both over time, between different economic sectors, and among groups of residents. This transition to a future-proof energy system is closely linked to other societal challenges, such as equal opportunities, housing, and economic development.
The challenge of the energy transition primarily lies in the process itself; navigating the transition and the dynamics that come with it. The content—energy—forms the complex cause, result, and subject of this transition. Process and content are inextricably linked. For the public sector, a well-managed process is often a greater challenge than the technical optimization of the energy system.
Good collaboration between public and private actors, the careful participation of residents and other stakeholders in democratic decision-making, and the smart planning of goals, resources, and people are essential for making an impact. BMC can advise and support the public sector in this regard, drawing on its experience and deep knowledge.”
I thought I had covered all the bases: a bit of background on the energy transition, my perspective on it, and a focus on our competitive advantage. I was even quite proud of how I emphasized the transition aspect over the technical, as most competitors approach this topic from a technical or spatial angle.
But, of course, my text was much too long for the communications department. They shortened it to:
“The challenge of the energy transition primarily lies in the process itself: navigating the transition and the dynamics that come with it. For the public sector, a well-managed process is often a greater challenge than the technical optimization of the energy system. Effective collaboration between public and private parties, careful participation of residents and other stakeholders in democratic decision-making, and smart planning of goals, resources, and people are essential for making an impact. We can advise and support the public sector in this.”
This is a reasonable alternative text. However, while I agreed to use this summary on the website, it doesn’t truly capture my vision of the energy transition. It feels too simplistic and bland. I initially wanted to make it more nuanced and more complex. Something inspired by the conceptualization of earth system governance that I've worked with for so many years:
“The interrelated and increasingly integrated system of formal and informal rules, rule-making systems, and actor-networks (…) that are set up to steer societies towards preventing, mitigating, and adapting to global and local environmental change and, in particular, earth system transformation, within the normative context of sustainable development”
(Biermann, Zondervan et al., 2010)
This is, of course, too abstract and academic for public sector consultancy. For that, I need a vision that is both distinctive and engaging.
I am clear on where my perspective diverges from the competition and most public sector managers. I tried to capture this distinction in my initial, overly lengthy text as: “The challenge of the energy transition primarily lies in the process itself; navigating the transition and the dynamics that come with it.”
In other words, the energy transition is fundamentally about process, power, politics, and paperwork. Or, put simply: It’s the governance, stupid.