Energy futures: Diversity and the need for assessment

► Futures in general and energy futures in particular are interpreted as social constructs. ► The diversity of energy futures could run into arbitrariness which would make the expected direct provision of orientation impossible. ► Energy futures can contribute to decision-making only in a complex and sophisticated way via democratic debate and deliberation. ► In order to exploit this potential an epistemological scrutiny, enlightenment and assessment of the energy futures is needed.