IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/energy/v148y2018icp1162-1172.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

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

Author

Listed:
  • 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
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360544218301798
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.energy.2018.01.151?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Mancarella, Pierluigi, 2014. "MES (multi-energy systems): An overview of concepts and evaluation models," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 65(C), pages 1-17.
    2. Sovacool, Benjamin K., 2017. "Contestation, contingency, and justice in the Nordic low-carbon energy transition," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 102(C), pages 569-582.
    3. Zakeri, Behnam & Syri, Sanna & Rinne, Samuli, 2015. "Higher renewable energy integration into the existing energy system of Finland – Is there any maximum limit?," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 92(P3), pages 244-259.
    4. Hagos, Dejene Assefa & Gebremedhin, Alemayehu & Bolkesjø, Torjus Folsland, 2017. "The prospects of bioenergy in the future energy system of Inland Norway," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 121(C), pages 78-91.
    5. Koljonen, T & Siikavirta, H & Zevenhoven, R & Savolainen, I, 2004. "CO2 capture, storage and reuse potential in Finland," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 29(9), pages 1521-1527.
    6. Yael Parag & Benjamin K. Sovacool, 2016. "Electricity market design for the prosumer era," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 1(4), pages 1-6, April.
    7. Levihn, Fabian, 2017. "CHP and heat pumps to balance renewable power production: Lessons from the district heating network in Stockholm," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 137(C), pages 670-678.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Zhang, Junyi & Hayashi, Yoshitsugu & Frank, Lawrence D., 2021. "COVID-19 and transport: Findings from a world-wide expert survey," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 103(C), pages 68-85.
    2. Vainio, Annukka & Varho, Vilja & Tapio, Petri & Pulkka, Anna & Paloniemi, Riikka, 2019. "Citizens’ images of a sustainable energy transition," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 183(C), pages 606-616.
    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.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Østergaard, P.A. & Lund, H. & Thellufsen, J.Z. & Sorknæs, P. & Mathiesen, B.V., 2022. "Review and validation of EnergyPLAN," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 168(C).
    2. Lonergan, Katherine Emma & Sansavini, Giovanni, 2022. "Business structure of electricity distribution system operator and effect on solar photovoltaic uptake: An empirical case study for Switzerland," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 160(C).
    3. Pilpola, Sannamari & Lund, Peter D., 2018. "Effect of major policy disruptions in energy system transition: Case Finland," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 116(C), pages 323-336.
    4. Lu, Shuai & Gu, Wei & Zhou, Jinhui & Zhang, Xuesong & Wu, Chenyu, 2018. "Coordinated dispatch of multi-energy system with district heating network: Modeling and solution strategy," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 152(C), pages 358-370.
    5. Capone, Martina & Guelpa, Elisa & Mancò, Giulia & Verda, Vittorio, 2021. "Integration of storage and thermal demand response to unlock flexibility in district multi-energy systems," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 237(C).
    6. Heendeniya, Charitha Buddhika & Sumper, Andreas & Eicker, Ursula, 2020. "The multi-energy system co-planning of nearly zero-energy districts – Status-quo and future research potential," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 267(C).
    7. Beatriz María Paredes-Sánchez & José Pablo Paredes & Natalia Caparrini & Elena Rivo-López, 2021. "Analysis of District Heating and Cooling Energy Systems in Spain: Resources, Technology and Management," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-22, May.
    8. Yi, Ji Hyun & Ko, Woong & Park, Jong-Keun & Park, Hyeongon, 2018. "Impact of carbon emission constraint on design of small scale multi-energy system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 161(C), pages 792-808.
    9. Dominković, D.F. & Bačeković, I. & Sveinbjörnsson, D. & Pedersen, A.S. & Krajačić, G., 2017. "On the way towards smart energy supply in cities: The impact of interconnecting geographically distributed district heating grids on the energy system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 137(C), pages 941-960.
    10. Lukas Kriechbaum & Philipp Gradl & Romeo Reichenhauser & Thomas Kienberger, 2020. "Modelling Grid Constraints in a Multi-Energy Municipal Energy System Using Cumulative Exergy Consumption Minimisation," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(15), pages 1-23, July.
    11. Carattini, Stefano & Gillingham, Kenneth & Meng, Xiangyu & Yoeli, Erez, 2024. "Peer-to-peer solar and social rewards: Evidence from a field experiment," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 219(C), pages 340-370.
    12. Sayegh, M.A. & Danielewicz, J. & Nannou, T. & Miniewicz, M. & Jadwiszczak, P. & Piekarska, K. & Jouhara, H., 2017. "Trends of European research and development in district heating technologies," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 68(P2), pages 1183-1192.
    13. Wang, Dongxue & Fan, Ruguo & Yang, Peiwen & Du, Kang & Xu, Xiaoxia & Chen, Rongkai, 2024. "Research on floating real-time pricing strategy for microgrid operator in local energy market considering shared energy storage leasing," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 368(C).
    14. Zhou, Yuekuan & Lund, Peter D., 2023. "Peer-to-peer energy sharing and trading of renewable energy in smart communities ─ trading pricing models, decision-making and agent-based collaboration," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 207(C), pages 177-193.
    15. Matija Kostelac & Lin Herenčić & Tomislav Capuder, 2022. "Planning and Operational Aspects of Individual and Clustered Multi-Energy Microgrid Options," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-17, February.
    16. Mukherjee, Monish & Hardy, Trevor & Fuller, Jason C. & Bose, Anjan, 2022. "Implementing multi-settlement decentralized electricity market design for transactive communities with imperfect communication," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 306(PA).
    17. Guelpa, Elisa & Bischi, Aldo & Verda, Vittorio & Chertkov, Michael & Lund, Henrik, 2019. "Towards future infrastructures for sustainable multi-energy systems: A review," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 184(C), pages 2-21.
    18. Park, Sung-Won & Zhang, Zhong & Li, Furong & Son, Sung-Yong, 2021. "Peer-to-peer trading-based efficient flexibility securing mechanism to support distribution system stability," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 285(C).
    19. Waibel, Christoph & Evins, Ralph & Carmeliet, Jan, 2019. "Co-simulation and optimization of building geometry and multi-energy systems: Interdependencies in energy supply, energy demand and solar potentials," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 242(C), pages 1661-1682.
    20. David Drysdale & Brian Vad Mathiesen & Henrik Lund, 2019. "From Carbon Calculators to Energy System Analysis in Cities," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-21, June.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:148:y:2018:i:c:p:1162-1172. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/energy .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.