Die Energiewende and environmental protest : analyzing the regional narrative through fictional literature and film

The Energiewende has been one of the most ambitious attempts at structural change within Germany’s energy system, with the goal of transitioning the country towards a low-carbon, sustainable, and affordable energy supply. One of the major factors that determines its success is the way in which rural communities respond to a dramatic shift in their environment, especially since transitioning to renewable energies would require shifting the concentration of energy production to the regional level. This paper seeks to identify local responses to environmental and political change in fictional literature and media, namely Baran bo Odar and Jantje Friese’s TV series Dark as well as Ingrid Bacher’s novel Die Grube. I explore how the regional narrative is useful for understanding the ways in which the Energiewende has and will continue to manifest itself in the lives of German citizens. Analyzing the Energiewende through a fictional lens illuminates the various social, economic, and political conditions that ultimately play a role in determining the success of the Energiewende’s implementation.