Learning from failures as a support for energy transition

An analysis of an intervention

Abstract

Learning from experiments has been seen important in developing climate and energy solutions, but less attention has been paid to learning from the inevitable failures associated with experiments. Learning from failures is nevertheless challenging because sharing such experiences is difficult. This study examines a novel kind of intervention developed to support learning from failures related to renewable energy experiments. A series of After Work events for pioneers of energy experiments was held in different locations in Finland. A total of 139 experts interested in energy experiments took part in the events during 2018-2019. The aim of the Energy Pioneers' After Work event series was to encourage energy experimenters and other actors to openly share their failures, thus promoting the adoption of an experimental culture and the local dissemination of experimental lessons. The article explores what the events revealed from the failures, what participants learned from the discussions at these events and what we can learn from the intervention. Based on the results, we consider how sharing experiences of failures could be promoted, how the intervention itself failed, and what was learned from organizing the series of events.