About POLET

POLET stands for the ‘Perspectives on technOLogical change and Energy Transitions’. We aim to understand which changes in energy systems can happen fast enough – and where – to reduce the risks of dangerous climate change. To answer this question we connect knowledge on past technological change with insights on future energy transitions required to save the climate. We view the past as a guide to where change is most feasible and identify sectors and contexts where policy can make the biggest difference.

Disciplinarily, we aim to facilitate dialogue between energy system modelers, who study changes in energy markets and flows; socio-technical scholars, who study changes in energy technologies and practices; and political scientists who study changes in political actions and policies. Inspired by Elinor Ostrom and the Bloomington school, we believe that change and continuity in energy systems can only be understood by bridging different disciplinary perspectives.

Institutionally, our homes are Central European University, Chalmers University of Technology, Lund University and the University of Bergen.

Our Team

Researchers

Aleh Cherp is a Professor in the Department of Environmental Sciences and Policy of Central European University and the International Institute for Industrial Environmental Economics at Lund University (Sweden). He co-leads the work on feasibility of climate mitigation pathways in the ENGAGE and on non-technical feasibility of low-carbon electrification in Sweden and Northern Europe in MISTRA-Electric. In the past Prof. Cherp served as coordinating lead author on Energy and Security in the Global Energy Assessment. Prof. Cherp is also the lead author of macademic.org — a blog on academic productivity.

Jessica Jewell is an Associate Professor in the Department of Space, Earth and Environment at Chalmers University (Sweden) and a Professor at the Center for Climate and Energy Transformations at the University of Bergen (Norway). She leads an ERC project on the mechanisms of energy transitions and feasibility of climate action, a work-package in an H2020 project on European carbon-intensive regions, an RCN project on decline of fossil fuels and its implications, and co-leads a work package in MISTRA-Electric. She also has worked at the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (Austria) and the International Energy Agency (France).

Vadim Vinichenko is a post-doctoral researcher in the Department of Space, Earth and Environment at Chalmers University (Sweden). His work focuses on the empirical analysis of energy transitions to map the feasibility of future climate mitigation scenarios. Dr. Vinichenko has published on national energy transitions, coal phase-out and energy security in climate mitigation scenarios, as well as deployment of renewable energy technologies. His current research is contributing to the MANIFEST project. Prior to joining Chalmers, Dr. Vinichenko worked at the Centre for Climate and Energy Transformations at the University of Bergen (Norway).

Marta Vetier is a post-doctoral researcher in the Department of Space, Earth and Environment at Chalmers University (Sweden). Her research focuses on deployment of low carbon energy technologies and policies that support their growth within the frameworks of the MISTRA-Electric project. Perviously she has done research at Central European University (CEU, Austria) on the feasibility of energy transitions in national climate mitigation scenarios within the ENGAGE project. She obtained her PhD from CEU and also holds a certificate in teaching in higher education from CEU's Center for Teaching and Learning. She has a diverse international working portfolio including various high level positions in the private and NGO-sectors.

Masahiro Suzuki is a PhD candidate at the Department of Environmental Sciences and Policy at Central European University. His research examines whether countries accelerate low-carbon energy transitions in order to mitigate climate change. Masahiro's PhD contributes to the ENGAGE project. Currently, he is a visiting researcher at NewClimate Institute (Germany), where he contributes to the Climate Action Tracker. Prior to his PhD, Masahiro worked at the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (Japan), where he was Japan’s delegate at the climate COPs. Masahiro holds a M.Sc. in Environmental Sciences, Policy and Management, and a B.A. in International Relations from Waseda University (Japan).

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Moshahida Sultana

Moshahida Sultana is a PhD candidate at the Department of Environmental Sciences and Policy at Central European University. She is working on the political economy of energy transitions in developing countries, focusing on energy choices for emerging economies like Bangladesh and Vietnam where demand for electricity is rapidly growing. Before starting her PhD, she earned an MCP from the Department of Urban Studies and Planning at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (US), an MA in Economics from Northeastern University (US), and B.Sc in Economics from Middle East Technical University (Turkey). Moshahida teaches at the University of Dhaka (Bangladesh) where she is currently on a study leave to complete her PhD at Central European University (Austria).

Lola Nacke is a PhD student in the Department of Space, Earth and Environment at Chalmers University. Her research examines the feasibility of low-carbon energy transitions, focusing on coal phase-out and related policies within CINTRAN project. Before joining POLET, Lola earned an M.Sc. in Environmental Sciences, Policy & Management, and a B.A. in European Studies from Maastricht University.

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Senjuty Bhowmik

Senjuty Bhowmik is a PhD student at the Department of Environmental Sciences and Policy of Central European University. Her research explores the relationship between profitability of renewable energy and the feasibility of national renewable energy plans and targets. Currently her focus is on solar energy in India. Senjuty holds an M.Sc. in Environmental Sciences, Policy & Management and a B.A. in Political Science from Jadavpur University (India).

Tsimafei Kazlou is a PhD student at the Center for Climate and Energy Transformations at the University of Bergen (Norway). His research is focused on the feasibility of emerging technologies’ deployment for meeting climate targets. Prior to joining POLET, he was awarded an M.Sc. in Environmental Sciences, Policy and Management. He also holds a B.Sc. in Geology from Belarusian State University (Belarus).

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Avi Jakhmola

Avi Jakhmola is a PhD student at the Department of Space, Earth and Environment at Chalmers University (Sweden). His research focuses on measuring and modelling the growth and diffusion of renewable energy technologies, and is part of the MANIFEST project. He previously graduated with a joint M.Sc. degree in Environmental Sciences, Policy & Management and a B.Sc. (Honours) in Physics from Amity University (India).

Hodjat Arabi

Hodjat Arabi is starting his PhD at the International Institute for Industrial Environmental Economics at Lund University in Sweden. He studies the non-technical feasibility of energy transitions in Northern Europe within the MISTRA Electric project. He has been working in the environmental, sustainability, energy, health and safety fields for the last ten years. He holds an M.Sc. degree in Environmental Sciences, Policy and Management, an M.A. degree in International Economics, International Relations and Social Sciences from the American Graduate School in Paris (France) and a B.Sc. in Chemical Engineering from the Petroleum University of Technology (Iran).

Anastasia Pavlenko

Anastasia Pavlenko is a PhD student in Vienna, Austria and a researcher in MISTRA Electric (2022-2023) and ENGAGE (2023) projects. Her research addresses the co-evolution of energy technologies and politics in the European Union, in particular the impact of the 2022 energy security crisis on energy transitions in European countries. She has an MSc degree (distinction) in Environmental Sciences and Policy. Prior to joining POLET, she graduated from Moscow Higher School of Economics and worked as a junior research scientist in the Geophysical Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences and at the International Commodity Exchange.