Blind spots of participation: How differently do geothermal energy managers and residents understand participation?

Participation is often presented as the solution for achieving social acceptance in energy infrastructure projects. Despite its broad recognition, participation might have very different meanings depending on the perspective taken. In this paper, we empirically explore different understandings of two central perspectives in a participatory process: those of the project managers and the residents. While project managers have a rather classic view of participatory formats, residents look for formats they can accommodate in their everyday practices. Put together, both perspectives expand common conceptualizations of participation in the literature and enable the detection of blind spots. Based on empirical data from geothermal energy, our findings show that perceptions and expectations of participation vary and, in some cases, diverge, which leads to misunderstandings about the nature and scope of participation. This, in turn, can delay or even block energy projects.