Cornelia Helmcke

Cornelia Helmcke is a Senior Policy Fellow at the Centre for Energy Ethics affiliated with the University of St Andrews. As a political ecologist, her research focuses on just transitions in energy systems, land-use conflicts, and the intersections between climate policy and local realities. She has conducted fieldwork in Scotland and Colombia, analyzing how global net-zero ambitions clash with community needs. Her recent projects include investigating energy grid limitations in Scottish islands and peatland restoration challenges in rural Scotland.

Teaching highlights include convening undergraduate modules on political ecology and co-teaching the MSc Energy Policy and Finance program. She has advised three graduate students and collaborated with crofting communities to produce policy guidance. Key funding includes the Scottish Research Alliance for Energy, Homes and Livelihoods and University of St Andrews interdisciplinary grants.

Her work bridges academic research with policy impact, producing both peer-reviewed articles and actionable reports. Current projects emphasize participatory methods to address energy poverty and carbon offsetting inequities. The Energy Data Justice Framework she developed offers innovative tools for assessing green energy projects' social and environmental impacts.