ENERGY TRANSITION AND KNOWLEDGE FLOWS IN THE BORDER REGION OF SILESIA

This paper examines the mechanisms by which actors generate and share knowledge and skills during a regional sustainable energy transition. This case study analysis was conducted in the Polish Silesian Voivodeship which is one of the regions with the worst air quality in Poland and Europe. There, a LIFEfunded project has been set up to implement a multi-faceted sustainable energy transition to ensure better air quality. The analysis adopts a multidisciplinary approach combining transition and knowledge management scholarships to unfold I) the institutional work to implement a new technological artifact in a cultural and economic context bound to coal; II) the barriers hindering sustainable energy transition and behavioral change; III) the knowledge generated and transferred to public institutions and residents. Findings support the eco-managers’ threefold role, as transition intermediaries, aimed at promoting a new sustainable culture as well as skills and knowledge among residents and local institutions.