| 1. |
- Isaksson, Charlotta, 1974-, et al.
(författare)
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Dividing or sharing? : A time-geographical examination of eating, labour, and energy consumption in Sweden
- 2015
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Ingår i: Energy Research & Social Science. - : Elsevier BV. - 2214-6296 .- 2214-6326. ; 10, s. 180-191
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Many energy consuming household activities are collectively organized, while in information campaigns for energy conservation they are regarded as planned and performed by individuals in isolation. This article aims at scrutinizing this mismatch by analytically examining how energy-consuming activities are allocated and organized among household members and explore the implications for energy consumption. Time-geographic concepts ground for the investigation and empirical illustrations are taken from a uniquely rich historic Swedish pilot study on time-use from 1996. The pilot offers time-diaries from members of the same households which allow analysis on activity allocation in the households. We present a conceptual framework with two overarching principles of activity allocation; project division and project sharing. Visualizations of daily activity sequences from time-diaries in the pilot study are used to analyze the household project providing meals. The overall result indicates that the ways households allocate and coordinate energy consuming activities matter to energy use. Consequently, it is important to consider the household with its members for understanding daily energy consuming activities and people’s possibilities to conserve energy. If reconfigured to fit into the interlinked everyday life activity sequences of household members, energy advice and information campaigns might improve the opportunities to reach their targets.
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| 2. |
- Månsson, André
(författare)
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A resource curse for renewables? Conflict and cooperation in the renewable energy sector
- 2015
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Ingår i: Energy Research & Social Science. - : Elsevier BV. - 2214-6326 .- 2214-6296. ; 10:November, s. 1-9
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Previous studies have shown that fossil energy systems can be a conflict objective, means or cause. This study explores how renewable energy (RE) systems can interact with conflicts and to what extent the risk of different conflicts may change. Renewable resources, in contrast to conventional fossil resources, are more difficult to control in time and space. RE systems depend on exploiting flows rather than extracting stocks, are geographically more evenly distributed, and the energy density is lower. As a consequence, economic and geopolitical incentives for states to engage in conflicts to secure or control RE resources are low. However, increased competition for land increases the risk of local conflicts that involve non-state actors, since it can reduce actor's ecological space. Distribution and use of RE can be designed to have a low risk of interacting with conflicts, but the success of this depends on the technologies implemented and other sustainability policies. Increased dependence on control systems used to manage variable electricity production increase exposure to cyber threats while as small-scale distributed generation reduce incentives to attack the system since such systems are less sensitive to attacks.
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| 3. |
- Sataøen, Hogne L., 1979-, et al.
(författare)
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Towards a sustainable grid development regime? : A comparison of British, Norwegian, and Swedish grid development
- 2015
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Ingår i: Energy Research & Social Science. - : Elsevier. - 2214-6296 .- 2214-6326. ; 9, s. 178-187
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Currently, huge investments are being made in the electricity infrastructure in Europe. However, one third of the European grid investments are delayed, even though the majority of the population in Europe is in favour of a greener energy mix. This paradoxical situation is connected to the fact that although interdependent, the production and transportation sides of renewable energy sources are treated as two distinct processes. The two types of infrastructure undergo separate processes for development consent and are the target of opposition from various citizen groups. In this article we compare the British, Norwegian, and Swedish grid development regimes in order to analyse their opportunities and challenges. The comparison demonstrates that the regimes differ on significant aspects, e.g. different historical trajectories, technological setups, arguments, and main drivers. The article highlights the importance of achieving sustainable energy systems by relying on a sensible strategy for grid development, and the importance of moving beyond the focus on a sustainable, "green-fuelled" grid.
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| 4. |
- Strambo, Claudia, et al.
(författare)
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Coherent or inconsistent? Assessing energy security and climate policy interaction within the European Union
- 2015
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Ingår i: Energy Research & Social Science. - : Elsevier BV. - 2214-6326 .- 2214-6296. ; 8, s. 1-12
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Energy security has become a key priority in the European Union’s (EU) policy. However, climate change mitigation commitments run in parallel. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the extent to which the EU’s climate change mitigation and energy security policies are coherent. The relationship is far from clear-cut, as both areas are complex and wide-ranging. We use a simple assessment framework, which juxtaposes the main components of the two policy domains and characterizes the interactions between them. Our assessment shows that there is general coherence between several policy subfields, but a number of policy interactions require policy-makers’ attention. The coherence between energy security and climate mitigation policies will depend on ancillary policy measures and the evolution of external drivers, such as global gas markets. Furthermore, the future outlook of how the EU’s energy policy will affect climate change mitigation and vice versa will depend on how the future energy security agenda is framed. A move to a nationally fragmented energy security frame would lead to greater policy conflicts, while a coordinated European energy security frame could increase policy coherence.
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| 5. |
- Ahlborg, Helene, 1980, et al.
(författare)
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Small-scale hydropower in Africa: Socio-technical designs for renewable energy in Tanzanian villages
- 2015
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Ingår i: Energy Research and Social Science. - : Elsevier BV. - 2214-6296. ; 5, s. 20-33
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In this article, we explore the process of economic change following the NGO-led implementation of a small-scale off-grid hydropower system in Tanzania. We examine how the implementing actor deals with economic challenges and local ownership in order to achieve sustainable electricity supply. The qualitative case study shows that the NGO, ACRA-CCS, has overcome a number of constraints, which are sometimes associated with donor funding. This has been achieved by having multiple donors, an integrated approach and a longer presence. The 'logic' of implementation included active enhancement of productive electricity use, community services and benefits. As a result of these actions, the customer base grew quickly, rather than it taking many years to develop. The case illustrates the process whereby an off-grid system becomes economically viable. Local ownership has led to the project becoming an arena for community collaboration and problem solving, and creating values such as effective load management and protection of infrastructure. We suggest that attention should be given to possible public private community partnerships (PPCPs)-involving communities as crucial partners. The choice of a socio-technical system perspective was fruitful and provided crucial insights into how different factors manifested, interacted and played out in practice.
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| 6. |
- Eder, Jonas, et al.
(författare)
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Mini-grids and renewable energy in rural Africa : How diffusion theory explains adoption of electricity in Uganda
- 2015
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Ingår i: Energy Research and Social Science. - : Elsevier. - 2214-6296. ; 5, s. 45-54
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- With diffusion theory as the point of departure, this study analyses the factors that influence the adoption of renewable electricity from individual households’ perspectives. The analysis is based on a case study provided by a Swedish energy service company operating in rural Uganda. The company distributes electricity to rural households via a mini-grid powered by a biomass gasification system. Three critical dimensions are identified to be crucial for adoption: technical, economic, and social. First, there is an emphasis on the relative advantages of the new technology. Second, there are economic requirements regarding a viable financial system for adopters, especially in such a low-income market. Third, the social dimension is critical, particularly the importance of foreign firms collaborating with local actors. We further suggest that a lack of understanding of local communities can lead foreign companies to fail in diffusion attempts. While we focus on Uganda, the results of our research are highly relevant for foreign actors who attempt to penetrate rural markets in developing countries in general.
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| 7. |
- Glaas, Erik, 1981-, et al.
(författare)
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Facilitating climate change adaptation through communication : Insights from the development of a visualization tool
- 2015
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Ingår i: Energy Research and Social Science. - : Elsevier. - 2214-6296. ; 10, s. 57-61
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Climate change communication on anticipated impacts and adaptive responses is frequently presentedas an effective means to facilitate implementation of adaptation to mitigate risks to residential buildings.However, it requires that communication is developed in a way that resonates with the context of thetarget audience, provides intelligible information and addresses perceived barriers to adaptation. In thispaper we reflect upon criteria for useful climate change communication gained over a three year developmentprocess of a web-based tool – VisAdaptTM – aimed at increasing the adaptive capacity amongNordic homeowners. Based on the results from continuous user-testing and focus group interviews weoutline lessons learned and key aspects to consider in the design of tools for communicating complexissues such as climate change effects and adaptive response measures.
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| 8. |
- Saadi, N., et al.
(författare)
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African Clean Energy Corridor : Regional integration to promote renewable energy fueled growth
- 2015
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Ingår i: Energy Research and Social Science. - : Elsevier BV. - 2214-6296. ; 5, s. 130-132
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The Africa Clean Energy Corridor (ACEC) initiative aims to facilitate regional cooperation on promoting regional electricity trade and renewable deployment, allowing to harness tremendous renewable energy potential existing in East and Southern African sub-regions in a "Clean Energy Corridor (CEC)" stretching from Egypt to South Africa. In this short communication, we outline what role renewable energy combined with regional integration plays in meeting Africa's growing energy demand. Results compare an ACEC scenario, where regional cooperation promoting trade and renewable energy deployment would create favorable market conditions for solar and wind technologies, with a business-as-usual scenario where the region decides to deploy more fossil based power while using hydro resources mainly to meet domestic demand. We find both a decrease in overall system costs mainly due to the shift from high cost fossil fuel sources to a combination of further deployment of hydropower in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Ethiopia, complemented by high quality wind potential in East Africa. This scenario would reduce carbon emissions by 40%, compared to a business-as-usual scenario where hydropower potential remains to be used only for domestic purposes. Our model showcases potential costs and benefits of combining regional integration with increased use of renewable energy.
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| 9. |
- Ulsrud, Kirsten, et al.
(författare)
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Village-level solar power in Africa : Accelerating access to electricity services through a socio-technical design in Kenya
- 2015
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Ingår i: Energy Research & Social Sciences. - : Elsevier. - 2214-6296. ; 5, s. 34-44
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Village-level solar power supply represents a promising potential for access to electricity services. Increased knowledge is needed for the development of solutions that work for the users and are viable in the long run. This article analyzes a solar power model developed and tested through action research in collaboration between a community in Kenya and a team of social scientists and technical experts. The analysis includes the reasons for its socio-technical design, and the actual functioning of the model. The research shows that an energy center model can cover basic electricity needs in areas with dispersed settlement patterns, where mini-grid based systems as well as conventional grid extension meet significant challenges. Such areas are representative for large geographical areas in Africa. We show that portable lanterns and low prices may enhance access to suitable services. Committed follow-up of the local actors, and a flexible socio-technical design – allowing for improvements after implementation – contribute to economic sustainability and smooth functioning. Close attention to the socio-cultural context and the challenges of users, operators and managers is required. Our research draws on theories of socio-technical change and users’ innovation, and presents a five-step analytical framework for analysis of village-level power provision.
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| 10. |
- Wibeck, Victoria, et al.
(författare)
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Questioning the technological fix to climate change : Lay sense-making of geoengineering in Sweden
- 2015
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Ingår i: Energy Research & Social Science. - : Elsevier. - 2214-6296. ; 7:May, s. 23-30
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This paper explores how Swedish laypeople make sense of emerging ideas of the large-scale deliberate technical manipulation of the global climate, known as geoengineering (GE). The paper is based on semi-structured focus group interviews with open-ended questions, allowing participants to express their spontaneous thoughts about GE. Although the focus group participants expressed great concern about climate change, GE was largely met with a sceptical, negative response. Participants perceived GE to: have negative environmental side-effects, address the symptoms rather than causes of climate change, create moral hazard and give rise to various governance challenges. Participants did not just reject the idea of GE outright; rather, social representations started to form in the focus groups through testing and negotiating arguments both pro and contra GE research and deployment.
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