Lorenzo Sapochetti is a junior associate at RAP, where he brings an interdisciplinary perspective to energy policy grounded in social science and ethnographic research. His work focuses on supporting equitable heat decarbonization, energy affordability and policy solutions that center on social inclusion and energy justice. Lorenzo draws on a background in academic research, policy-oriented consultancy and public engagement to advance inclusive energy transitions across Europe.
Before joining RAP, Lorenzo was a researcher at the Centre for Energy Ethics at the University of St Andrews, where he examined the ethical, social and economic dimensions of renewable energy communities in Italy. He collaborated with energy cooperatives, civil society actors, local governments and research–policy networks to better understand the governance of citizen-led energy initiatives, and contributed to knowledge exchange activities focused on sustainable energy and climate action. During his time at the University of St Andrews, he also taught undergraduate courses in social anthropology and management, covering topics such as power, governance, energy transitions, corporate accountability and the social dimensions of finance.
Lorenzo is based in Scotland, where he lives with his growing family. In addition to his native Italian, he speaks fluent English and Spanish, and conversational French. He enjoys hiking, cooking and DIY projects in his spare time.
He holds a doctorate in social anthropology from the University of St Andrews and a Master of Arts in cultural anthropology and ethnology from the University of Rome, La Sapienza.
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How did you catch the “energy” bug?
I first caught the “energy bug” during my Master’s fieldwork in Mexico, where I worked with Indigenous communities responding to the social and environmental impacts of large-scale energy infrastructure. Their experiences challenged me to think beyond technology and emissions — to see energy transitions as fundamentally social and political processes. That insight stayed with me as I deepened my work on renewable energy cooperatives in Europe, exploring how communities, policies, and markets interact. It opened my eyes to the importance of designing energy systems that are not only cleaner, but also more equitable, participatory, and just.
What is something that makes you feel hopeful about the future?
What makes me feel hopeful about the future is the way communities are reimagining energy from the ground up. Working with energy cooperatives, I’ve seen how collective action, even at a small scale, can challenge top-down models and open up more democratic, sustainable ways of organising energy systems. That kind of grassroots innovation — rooted in care, solidarity and political imagination — is what gives me hope.
I don’t have a single favourite dish — I really enjoy discovering local cuisine wherever I go. Food has always been one of the ways I connect with new places and people. A good meal, for me, starts with good ingredients and ends with no one checking the time — especially during long, festive gatherings with family and friends, which I always look forward to. That said, growing up where food is a serious business definitely made me a bit opinionated in the kitchen!