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Expert perceptions of low-carbon transitions: Investigating the challenges of electricity decarbonisation in the Nordic region

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  • Sovacool, Benjamin K.
  • Kester, Johannes
  • de Rubens, Gerardo Zarazua
  • Noel, Lance

Abstract

The five Nordic countries of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden have perhaps the most aggressive and progressive climate, energy, and electricity policies in the world. This study asks: what are the greatest challenges to achieving the region's low-carbon goals in the domain of electricity? To provide an answer, the authors conducted 227 semi-structured interviews with 257 participants from 201 institutions across seventeen cities within the Nordic region. Those interviewed represent a diverse array of stakeholders involved with electricity technology, policy and practice. Although respondents identified 40 distinct electricity challenges, the integration of renewables was by far the most frequently mentioned (14.5%). Five other challenges were also mentioned the most frequently by respondents: electrification of transport and other sectors (10.6%), managing intermittency (8.8%), carbon intensity (8.4%), supporting local grids (8.4%), and adequate capacity (8.4%). Interestingly, items such as energy efficiency, consumer awareness, industry, energy security, and public opposition were mentioned by only 1.8% (or less). The article concludes by what this heterogeneity and prioritization of challenges means for future Nordic research and policy.

Suggested Citation

  • Sovacool, Benjamin K. & Kester, Johannes & de Rubens, Gerardo Zarazua & Noel, Lance, 2018. "Expert perceptions of low-carbon transitions: Investigating the challenges of electricity decarbonisation in the Nordic region," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 148(C), pages 1162-1172.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:148:y:2018:i:c:p:1162-1172
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2018.01.151
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    Cited by:

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    3. Nathalie Ortar & Marianne Ryghaug, 2019. "Should All Cars Be Electric by 2025? The Electric Car Debate in Europe," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(7), pages 1-16, March.
    4. Neofytou, H. & Nikas, A. & Doukas, H., 2020. "Sustainable energy transition readiness: A multicriteria assessment index," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 131(C).
    5. Kester, Johannes & Noel, Lance & Zarazua de Rubens, Gerardo & Sovacool, Benjamin K., 2018. "Policy mechanisms to accelerate electric vehicle adoption: A qualitative review from the Nordic region," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 719-731.
    6. Sovacool, Benjamin K. & Kester, Johannes & Noel, Lance & de Rubens, Gerardo Zarazua, 2019. "Energy Injustice and Nordic Electric Mobility: Inequality, Elitism, and Externalities in the Electrification of Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) Transport," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 157(C), pages 205-217.
    7. Fernqvist, Niklas & Broberg, Sarah & Torén, Johan & Svensson, Inger-Lise, 2023. "District heating as a flexibility service: Challenges in sector coupling for increased solar and wind power production in Sweden," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 172(C).
    8. Huang, Xiaodan & Zhang, Hongyu & Zhang, Xiliang, 2020. "Decarbonising electricity systems in major cities through renewable cooperation – A case study of Beijing and Zhangjiakou," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 190(C).
    9. Wanke, Peter Fernandes & Chiappetta Jabbour, Charbel José & Moreira Antunes, Jorge Junio & Lopes de Sousa Jabbour, Ana Beatriz & Roubaud, David & Sobreiro, Vinicius Amorim & Santibanez Gonzalez‬, Erne, 2021. "An original information entropy-based quantitative evaluation model for low-carbon operations in an emerging market," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 234(C).
    10. Sovacool, Benjamin K. & Noel, Lance & Kester, Johannes & Zarazua de Rubens, Gerardo, 2018. "Reviewing Nordic transport challenges and climate policy priorities: Expert perceptions of decarbonisation in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 165(PA), pages 532-542.
    11. Qilong Wan & Xiaoqing Zhao & Haibing Liu & Hasan Dinçer & Serhat Yüksel, 2022. "Assessing the New Product Development Process for the Industrial Decarbonization of Sustainable Economies," SAGE Open, , vol. 12(1), pages 21582440211, January.
    12. Suomalainen, Kiti & Wen, Le & Sheng, Mingyue Selena & Sharp, Basil, 2022. "Climate change impact on the cost of decarbonisation in a hydro-based power system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 246(C).
    13. Noel, Lance & Zarazua de Rubens, Gerardo & Sovacool, Benjamin K., 2018. "Optimizing innovation, carbon and health in transport: Assessing socially optimal electric mobility and vehicle-to-grid pathways in Denmark," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 153(C), pages 628-637.
    14. Noel, Lance & Zarazua de Rubens, Gerardo & Kester, Johannes & Sovacool, Benjamin K., 2019. "Navigating expert skepticism and consumer distrust: Rethinking the barriers to vehicle-to-grid (V2G) in the Nordic region," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 67-77.

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