Social acceptance revisited: gaps, questionable trends, and an auspicious perspective

As the interpretation and labelling of most research fronts by Gaede and Rowlands is questionable, an alternative interpretation is paramount. This is done based on a conceptual elaboration, in which social acceptance is recognized as a bundle of dynamic processes instead of a set of actors positions. The object is 'energy innovation', which is also a process. Social acceptance research aims at understanding the transforming social-technological systems, and studies the complex, multi-level and polycentric processes of escaping our institutionally locked-in energy systems.