Overview
The expansion of renewable energy infrastructure is essential for climate mitigation but frequently encounters local resistance and contested participation processes, particularly in the context of emerging fast-track permitting and planning procedures intended to accelerate the energy transition. Research increasingly shows that additional factual information alone rarely resolves such conflicts, as attitudes toward projects are shaped by emotions, perceived injustices, narratives, and imageries circulating in public and social media. Existing digital tools in public participation mainly focus on processing information and arguments within formal procedures. This pilot project explores a different approach: the use of AI-supported reflection spaces prior to formal participation processes. The study develops and tests a source-bound chatbot designed to accompany individual reflection in the context of a renewable energy infrastructure project in Switzerland. Rather than primarily providing additional information, the chatbot invites users to explore their own perceptions, emotions, and intuitive responses to the project. The aim is to create a low-threshold space in which individuals can reflect on their reactions and assumptions before entering public deliberation. The prototype is evaluated through a mixed-methods design combining pre- and post-use surveys with qualitative interviews with affected citizens and stakeholders. This design examines how such reflection spaces may influence the readiness for constructive participation in climate-related infrastructure decisions.
