Narratives of Energy Transition
This presentation explores the narratives of energy transition through the lens of literature, examining how contemporary novels engage with the geological imaginary and the complex relationship between human activity and the Earth's resources.

by Lucy Grace

Contrasting Visions of Energy
Jules Verne (1864)
I gazed upon these mighty accumulations of coal, whose riches however are scarcely likely to be ever utilized. The working of these mines could only be carried out at an expense that would never yield a profit. The matter, however, is scarcely worthy of consideration, when coal is scattered over the whole surface of the globe...these untouched strata, therefore, I knew they would remain as long as the world lasts.
Journey to the Centre of the Earth - a novel
We will drill, baby, drill…it’s liquid gold under our feet…
United States President Donald Trump,
Inauguration Day Speech (2025)
The Petro-Imaginary
Fossil Fuel Abundance
Jules Verne and Donald Trump, separated by 160 years, share a similar sentiment about fossil fuels: they are abundant and inexhaustible. This perspective, rooted in the 'petro-imaginary,' emphasizes the economic potential of these resources while downplaying their environmental impact.
Trump's Petro-Imaginary
Trump's inaugural address in 2025 reflects this petro-imaginary, prioritizing economic growth and job creation over environmental concerns. He frames ecological policies as a 'disaster' and emphasizes the need to protect jobs from 'total destruction' caused by environmental regulations.
The Subsurface Narrative
1
The Subsurface in Fiction
Contemporary novels often depict the subsurface as a space of survival, escape, or destruction, but rarely as a site for positive energy transition. This reflects the dominance of science fiction and fantasy narratives in exploring the underground.
2
Heat and Light (2016)
Jennifer Haigh's novel, set in rural Pennsylvania, explores the impact of fracking on a small town. Haigh's personal connection to the region and her awareness of the fracking controversy inform the novel's narrative.
3
Shocked Earth (2021)
Saskia Goldschmidt's novel, set in the Groningen region of the Netherlands, depicts the devastating effects of shale gas drilling on a farming community. Goldschmidt's personal experience living in the region and her activism against drilling inform the novel's narrative.
The Energy Humanities
  • A New Field of Inquiry: The energy humanities emerged as a field of inquiry around 2014, connecting the climate crisis with human use of fossil fuels. It encourages interdisciplinary research and debate on the complex relationship between energy, culture, and the environment.
  • The Importance of Narrative: Narratives play a crucial role in shaping public understanding of energy issues. By telling stories about energy use and transition, we can challenge damaging fossil fuel ideologies and promote a more sustainable future.
  • Econarratology: Erin James coined the term 'econarratology' in 2015, suggesting that the Anthropocene requires new narratives to address the complex challenges of energy and the environment.
The Complexity of Energy Narratives
Non-Linear Narratives
In writing Heat and Light, Haigh recognised the limitations of the traditional linear novel.
Interconnected Threads
"Heat and Light has a lot of moving parts. Writing it, I
kept thinking about that old board game, ‘Mousetrap’".
The Complexity of Energy Narratives
1
Linear vs. Non-Linear
Haigh's 'Heat and Light' challenges the traditional linear structure of the novel, employing a non-linear narrative with multiple perspectives and time shifts. This reflects the complexity of energy transition and the need for a multidimensional approach.
2
Deep Time
Narratives about fossil fuels inevitably engage with deep time, the vast geological timescale that predates human history. This raises questions about how to represent the long-term consequences of energy use within a human lifespan.
3
Energy as a Character
Can energy itself be a character in a narrative? Can fuel be a protagonist? Exploring these possibilities could offer new ways to understand and engage with energy transition.
The Industrial Revolution and Energy Transition
Connecting specific energy systems with literary periods offers a unique lens for analyzing texts. American researcher Patricia Yeager's seminal 2011 paper, "Literature in the Ages of Wood, Tallow, Coal, Whale Oil, Gasoline, Atomic Power and Other Energy Sources," explored this connection, suggesting a shift in literary categorization based on energy sources.
Instead of divvying up the literary works into hundred-year intervals (or elastic variants like the long eighteenth or twentieth century) or categories harnessing the history of ideas (Romanticism, Enlightenment), what happens if we sort texts according to the energy sources that made them possible?
The UK is Meteorologically, Ecologically and Geologically Fortunate
The Shift from Natural Fuels
The Industrial Revolution marked a shift from easily accessible natural fuels like wood, wind, and water to mined coal. This transition was driven by economic progress but had significant ecological consequences.
The UK's Energy Transition
The UK's energy transition is a complex process, marked by a decline in coal production and a rise in renewable energy sources, with wind power becoming the largest source of electricity generation in the UK in 2024.
'Modernity is unthinkable without fossil fuels.'
Dipesh Chakrabarty, 2009.
The Insider-Hero in Energy Narratives
1
The Coalminer
Traditional narratives often portray coal miners as distinct from farmers, with the latter seen as stewards of the land. However, this distinction is often inaccurate, as coal mining communities have a deep connection to the land.
2
The Fracking Debate
Novels like 'Heat and Light' and 'Shocked Earth' complicate the 'insider-hero' trope, as landowners are forced to confront the economic and ecological consequences of gas drilling on their land.
3
The Importance of Place
These novels emphasize the importance of place-writing in understanding energy issues, highlighting the local impacts of energy extraction and the need for a nuanced perspective.
Reimagining Energy Narratives
The energy humanities offer a valuable framework for understanding the complex relationship between energy, culture, and the environment. By exploring the narratives of energy transition, we can challenge outdated ideologies and promote a more sustainable future. This requires a multidimensional approach that considers the historical, social, and ecological dimensions of energy use.
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