The purpose of the article is to contribute to structuring the problem of how to advance a sustainable energy transition and achieve carbon neutrality goals while ensuring a democratic and inclusive process, by drawing on a pilot case – i.e., the energy transition in Portugal. By building on approaches and concepts from the Sustainability Transitions research field, the article explores perceptions, values, and concerns regarding distributed and centralized energy models; inclusivity and energy democracy; energy systems’ sustainability concerns and the speed of the transition. The study draws on the hypothesis that stakeholders across the state, market, community and third sector spheres, while equally supporting decarbonization, have different perceptions, values, and concerns regarding the social, environmental, and technological dynamics of the energy transition that need to be better understood for accelerating the transition. The multi-method approach included interviews, a survey (N = 110) and a stakeholder workshop, to unpack the key values and preferences around energy system technologies, sustainability and inclusionary aspects, the role of centralized and distributed energy systems and new investments, namely in green hydrogen and lithium mining. The results indicate there is a significant convergence on the fact that decarbonization is a priority that needs to be supported by inclusive and democratic processes. Decentralization, energy communities and solar energy are extremely valued, and transparency and information sharing are crucial expectations for new lithium mining projects, large-scale solar and green hydrogen investments. These findings outline some avenues for future research, where participation and transparency become anchors for a sustainable and inclusive transition.

本文的目的是通过借鉴一个试点案例（即葡萄牙的能源转型），帮助构建如何推进可持续能源转型和实现碳中和目标，同时确保民主和包容性进程的问题。通过建立在可持续转型研究领域的方法和概念，本文探讨了对分布式和集中式能源模型的看法、价值观和关注点；包容性和能源民主；能源系统的可持续性担忧和过渡的速度。该研究基于这样的假设，即州、市场、社区和第三部门领域的利益相关者在同样支持脱碳的同时，对能源转型的社会、环境和技术动态有不同的看法、价值观和担忧更好地理解为加速过渡。多方法方法包括访谈、调查（N = 110）和利益相关者研讨会，以揭示围绕能源系统技术、可持续性和包容性方面、集中式和分布式能源系统的作用和新投资的关键价值和偏好，即在绿色氢和锂开采。结果表明，脱碳是需要包容性和民主进程支持的优先事项这一事实存在显着趋同。去中心化、能源社区和太阳能非常受重视，透明度和信息共享是新锂矿开采项目、大规模太阳能和绿色氢能投资的关键期望。这些发现概述了未来研究的一些途径，其中参与和透明度成为可持续和包容性转型的支柱。