‘Energy at the End of the World: an Orkney Islands Saga’ tells the story of how these islands are making their own energy future, from marine energy to hydrogen fuel, at what some see as the edge of the world.
“Mixing storytelling and ethnography, empiricism and lyricism, Watts tells an Orkney energy saga–an account of how the islands are creating their own low-carbon future, in the face of the seemingly impossible. The Orkney Islands, Watts shows, are playing a long game, making energy futures for another six thousand years.“
Read an excerpt from the book.
Buy
Available now in paperback, hardcover and ebook from your local bookshop, your local library or direct from the publisher MIT Press. Danish residents can purchase the book on Saxo.
“An enthralling introduction to the unique socio-environment of Orkney and the making of energy on these islands.” – Pippa Goldschmidt, Author of The Need for Better Regulation of Outer Space
“An enormously creative, richly told story of how energy infrastructures are being remade by everyday people in a remote place.” –Professor Phoebe Sengers, Cornell University
“Elegy and analysis, ethnography and manifesto: the result is a rare glimpse of what can be achieved with committed transdisciplinary inspiration and rigor.” – Professor Andrew Stirling, University of Sussex
Awards
Awarded the prestigious Rachel Carson Prize by Society for Social Studies of Science (4S) for its distinctive social and political relevance and contribution to public debate and social change.
“Watts’ book offers an engaging, subtle and inspiring ethnography of energy practices and ecologies on Orkney… Presenting a sophisticated combination of empirical vignettes, speculative fiction, conceptual writing, poetry and photography, her Island Saga intertwines detailed descriptions, intimate narrative and fables of an alternative energy future.” –the Prize Committee. Read the prize statement and my acceptance.
Shortlisted for Research Book of Year by the Saltire Society, the national Scottish book awards.
Longlisted for the Highland Book Prize for its regional and literary significance.
Playlist
Playlist to accompany the book. Conjures the seascape and deep time that weaves through the chapters.
Gallery
Book Reviews
“The greatest contribution of Watts’s book, and it is a striking one, is that the Orcadian idiom for talking about energy infrastructures is… relationships – and relationships necessarily involve pasts, presents and futures.” – The Times Literary Supplement
“Get ready for a wild ride: the final book in our review is a unique mixture of fantasy and academic writing… The hardcover edition is a beautiful object in itself—with color images and sci-fi graphic novel-style artwork scattered throughout.” – Shana Lee Hirsch & Lauren Drakopulos, Science Technology & Human Values
“In Energy at the End of the World infrastructures become visible, palpable, personal and energy becomes something that you can feel on your skin…” – Phillip Vannini, Journal of Social & Cultural Geography.
“Watts does much to show that Orkney is not a provincial place… her ethnography shows that, because of the weight of various infrastructures, those working at the frontier of renewables are, still, constrained by the short‐term thinking that drives all capitalist industry” – Katherine Dow, Journal of Social Anthropology
“It shows what ethnographic science and technology studies can do at their best, and how scientific texts can be enjoyable, inspiring and convincing… the book is a powerful proof that the social sciences and humanities can offer valuable insights into research on technologies and energy infrastructures” – Veera Kinnunen & Jarno Valkonen, Science & Technology Studies Journal
“This reviewer was waiting for the were-seals, central to Orcadian folklore, to appear (they arrive on page 340)… Watts grounds her ethnography, unobtrusively but with expertise and depth, in modern literature on human responses to technology and environmental manipulation… Highly recommended.” – E. N. Anderson, emeritus, University of California, Riverside, CHOICE 360 Editor’s Picks
“Watts argues that understanding how energy futures have been made will allow us to envision other possibilities and make other futures. Stories from the Orkney Islands challenge many taken-for-granted notions about the potential of renewable energy” – Erik Kojola, Society and Space
“it is an engaging account of life at the edge, both figuratively, as the cutting edge of technology, and literally, in terms of being on the geographical margins. Ultimately it is an inspiring story of how a community is using the latest technology to create a better society, possibly even a better world.” – Tim Fryer, Engineering & Technology IET
“Orkney, 15 hours from London, is not on its map of the future… In exploring rural residents’ creativity and tenacity, Watts indicates that London just might be wrong.” – Phoebe Sengers, ACM Interactions
Media Coverage
- Forbes ‘The Energy Revolution Happening At The End Of The World’ – James Ellsmoor
- Revolve ‘Energy Futures at the Edge of the World’ – Book extract
- The Ecologist ‘Energy Islands penalised for becoming too clean’ – Chris Silver
- DeSMOG UK ‘Orkney: The ‘Energy Islands’ Penalised for Becoming Too Clean, Too Soon’ – Chris Silver
- Nature ‘The history of distant worlds, a clear eye on renewables and environmental lessons from a tiger’s tale: Books in brief’ – Barbara Kiser
- The Observer ‘How Orkney leads the way for sustainable energy’ – Robin McKie
- World Economic Forum, Davos 2019 ‘These tiny Scottish islands are a renewable energy powerhouse’ (short film)
- Literary Hub ‘Deep Time and an Uncertain Future on the Orkney Islands’ – Book extract
- The Orkney News ‘Orkney Energy Futures’ review of the book launch, Stromness.
- Radio New Zealand, Sunday Morning Show ‘Orkney’s sustainability revolution’
- France24, Perspectives ‘Orkney: A renewable energy revolution’
- Radio Orkney, Tullimentan ‘Interview’