Assessing the capabilites to manage risks in energy systems–analytical perspectives and frameworks with a starting point in Swedish experiences

• In this study we conceptualise how a capability approach could be used for analysing the conditions for preserving security of energy supply. We derive a concept, ‘energy system capability’, to describe how well the system is designed for this purpose. Based on a socio-technical systems perspective, we suggest that this capability is composed of five categories of ‘building blocks’: technical structures, natural resources, economic resources, institutions and actors. The configurations of these building blocks and the interactions between them provide the system with a certain level of reliability, robustness, flexibility, adaptivity and capacity for swift recovery and handling. These building blocks and system characteristics form various capabilities along the event chain (prevent, withstand, recover, handle, prepare, detect etc.) that together build the energy system capability.

Subject headings

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Naturresursteknik -- Energisystem (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Environmental Engineering -- Energy Systems (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Capability

Energy security

Energy system

Resilience

Risk

Security of supply

Publication and Content Type

art (subject category)

ref (subject category)