Transition Experiments: Opening Up Low-Carbon Transition Pathways for Canada through Innovation and Learning

Abstract

Canada is embarking on a low-carbon energy transition that will involve the diffusion of innovations and the reconfiguration of energy systems. This article examines the potential contribution that transition experiments can make to this process. Transition experiments can be understood as deliberate interventions that test novel configurations of social and technical elements that could lead to substantial low-carbon change. The analysis suggests that transition experiments can provide four primary benefits that might be leveraged to open low-carbon pathways for Canada: learning, capacity building, de-risking, and public education and engagement.