Professor Dr. Helene Ahlborg

Biography

Helene Ahlborg is an Associate Professor at Chalmers University, specializing in Environmental Systems Analysis, Technology Management, and Economics. Her research focuses on energy futures in East Africa and societal transformations related to the co-development of technology and society. She investigates the provision of electricity services through renewable energy resources, examining how these initiatives impact people's lives and transform rural communities and local economies. Ahlborg leads a team of social scientists dedicated to exploring local and global energy transitions and diverse decentralized energy systems. Her core themes include power, governance, and the everyday embedding of energy systems. Helene also engages in energy geographies, knowledge politics, and innovation in East Africa, particularly in energy entrepreneurship and inclusive transformation policies. She co-leads a research training program focusing on doctoral students and postdocs at the University of Rwanda and its Center of Excellence in Energy for Sustainable Development, supporting student-led innovation in sustainable solutions. Additionally, she is a member of the Scientific Advisory Committee for the OECD EPIC Household Survey Project, which addresses energy poverty and policy recommendations. Her academic background is rooted in social and environmental sciences, contributing to essential debates in energy development, sustainability transitions, and feminist theory.

Research Interests