Energy Geographies – an Introduction to Perspectives from France and Germany

Energy was and is of central importance for social development. The last 200 years have seen far-reaching upheavals in energy production and use, with major spatial impacts that are currently leading to new questions about 21st century developments. This can be impressively illustrated by focusing on France and Germany, whose paths repeatedly collide in sociopolitical negotiations. In geographical energy research, the tendency is to analyze the position of one’s neighboring country but without intensive dialogue between contrasting national and/or regional perspectives. French and German researchers could ideally interact and cooperate more closely. Based on this observation, workshops for young researchers were held in 2023 and 2024 to generate a French-German interface. Against this background, the article provides an introductory insight into energy geographies and into the similarities and differences in French and German perspectives, and offers an overview of the contributions collected here with their respective focal points.