A Just Energy Transition: The Social, Political, and Economic Shifts Necessary to Divest from Coal in Colombia

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Torres
Keyword(s):  
Energy Transition ◽  
The Social

The “laborless fuel”: Landscape, energy transitions and natural gas in the postwar U.S.

2021 ◽  
pp. 251484862098712
Author(s):  
Carlo Sica
Keyword(s):  
Natural Gas ◽  
Social Reproduction ◽  
Capital Accumulation ◽  
Energy Transition ◽  
Business Owners ◽  
Energy Landscapes ◽  
Technological Systems ◽  
Energy Transitions ◽  
The Social ◽  
Political Landscapes

The dire need for an energy transition to mitigate and reverse global warming is inspiring scholars to reexamine political influences on technological systems. The multi-level perspective of the socio-technical transitions framework acknowledges how technological systems are affected by the social and political landscapes where they are built. Energy landscapes literatures elaborate on the socio-technical transitions framework by explaining how the boundaries of landscapes are negotiated in the context of energy transitions. Energy scholars have found that negotiations over the form and purpose of energy landscapes frequently skew in favor of capital accumulation instead of social reproduction. Studies of landscapes in human geography and labor history have shown how the power imbalance energy scholars observed can be corrected by workers and their communities struggling against business owners and the state. Using archival data, I show how U.S. natural gas legislation in the postwar period was intended to limit coalminers’ demands for landscapes of social reproduction. This point matters because the vulnerabilities of industrial capitalism to energy worker organization could be exploited to push for a just and sustainable energy transition like the Green New Deal.

scholarly journals Who Beats the Dutch Tax Department? Tracing 20 Years of Niche–Regime Interactions on Collective Solar PV Production in The Netherlands

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 2807 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henk-Jan Kooij ◽  
Arnoud Lagendijk ◽  
Marieke Oteman
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Social Innovation ◽  
Energy Transition ◽  
Legal Issues ◽  
The Political ◽  
Solar Pv ◽  
The Past ◽  
The Social ◽  
Collective Production ◽  
Institutional Network

In the past years, Dutch citizens have experimented with various kinds of innovations to organize the collective production of renewable energy, including shared wind power and solar PV installations. Most of these attempts failed mainly due to legal issues and tax rules. Yet, one model for solar PV on collective roofs was implemented more widely, namely the postcode rose (PCR, postcoderoos): a form of cooperative solar PV production within a set of adjacent postcode areas. Set within a broader transition perspective, this article studies the emergence and evolution of the PCR as an example of a successful social innovation in the energy transition, through an innovation biography and mapping of the evolution of the social and institutional network around the innovation. The various attempts for collective solar PV, with different degrees of success and uptake into the regime, present a key aspect of niche development, namely associational work (circulation and mobilization) focused on regime change. In conclusion, the innovation path of the PCR emphasizes the importance of the political and associational in the energy transition and in transition thinking.

scholarly journals Dilemmas around the Energy Transition in the Perspective of Peter Blau’s Social Exchange Theory

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (24) ◽  
pp. 8211
Author(s):  
Joanna Wyleżałek
Keyword(s):  
Developing Country ◽  
Social Exchange ◽  
Carbon Dioxide Emissions ◽  
Social Exchange Theory ◽  
Energy Transition ◽  
Exchange Theory ◽  
Energy Transformation ◽  
Playing Field ◽  
The Social ◽  
Reduce Carbon Dioxide

The aim of the article is to present the complexity of social mechanisms related to the systemic energy transformation from the perspective of the classical social exchange theory. Considering the direction of actions taken to reduce carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere as obvious, the author of the article analyses the issue through the prism of social and economic dilemmas of the process, focusing on the mechanisms of energy transition in relation to Peter Blau’s exchange theory. The dilemmas of the systemic energy transition are presented in relation to the diverse games of interest that mark the social playing field around the analysed issue. The article outlines the social playing field of energy transition using the example of an economically strong country seeking to strengthen its position and a developing country interested in gaining energy independence. The analysis of the systemic conditions and the political activities carried out made it possible to define possible strategies of action for both countries with reference to the constitutive conditions of power defined by Peter Blau. Contrary to programme declarations of a “just transition”, the analysis made it possible to define the privileged position of economically powerful players and to point to the mechanisms blocking the implementation of the strategy of a developing country. Reference to the classical exchange theory, on the other hand, made it possible to identify the mechanisms indicating the presence in the energy transformation project of both overt and covert projects related to the pursuit of advantage in influencing the shape of the global energy economy.

scholarly journals Role of Biofuels in Energy Transition, Green Economy and Carbon Neutrality

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (22) ◽  
pp. 12374
Author(s):  
Nida Khan ◽  
Kumarasamy Sudhakar ◽  
Rizalman Mamat
Keyword(s):  
Energy Demand ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
First Generation ◽  
Energy Transition ◽  
Sustainable Transportation ◽  
Green Economy ◽  
Carbon Neutrality ◽  
Transportation Sector ◽  
The Social

Modern civilization is heavily reliant on petroleum-based fuels to meet the energy demand of the transportation sector. However, burning fossil fuels in engines emits greenhouse gas emissions that harm the environment. Biofuels are commonly regarded as an alternative for sustainable transportation and economic development. Algal-based fuels, solar fuels, e-fuels, and CO2-to-fuels are marketed as next-generation sources that address the shortcomings of first-generation and second-generation biofuels. This article investigates the benefits, limitations, and trends in different generations of biofuels through a review of the literature. The study also addresses the newer generation of biofuels highlighting the social, economic, and environmental aspects, providing the reader with information on long-term sustainability. The use of nanoparticles in the commercialization of biofuel is also highlighted. Finally, the paper discusses the recent advancements that potentially enable a sustainable energy transition, green economy, and carbon neutrality in the biofuel sector.

scholarly journals Energiewenden aus historischer Perspektive

2015 ◽  
Vol 56 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jochen Streb
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Energy Transition ◽  
Energy Sources ◽  
Energy Prices ◽  
Industrialized Countries ◽  
Water Power ◽  
Coal Beds ◽  
The Social ◽  
New Energy ◽  
Consumption Energy

AbstractAs most other industrialized countries, Germany experienced three major changes in its energy mix in the last two centuries, namely the respective transitions to coal, oil, and nuclear power. This paper discusses the reasons and consequences of these changes with respect to energy consumption, energy prices, and growth. One major finding is that each energy transition led to a devaluation of traditional locational advantages such as the existence of local sources of water power or coal beds. Another important observation is that most of the energy transitions were accompanied by significant government subsidies aiming at either promoting new energy sources or reducing the social hardship associated with the decline of traditional power industries.

scholarly journals Model-Based Exploration of Co-Creation Efforts: The Case of Solar Photovoltaics (PV) in Skåne, Sweden

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 3905 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sujeetha Selvakkumaran ◽  
Erik Ahlgren
Keyword(s):  
Model Development ◽  
Energy Transition ◽  
Local Energy ◽  
Solar Pv ◽  
Solar Photovoltaics ◽  
Mixed Methods Approach ◽  
Model Based ◽  
Energy Transitions ◽  
The Social ◽  
Quantitative And Qualitative Methods

Co-creation in the societal sphere is becoming important in many parts of the world. However, empirical analysis of co-creation in local energy transitions has been understudied. This paper aims to contribute to the field of local energy transitions by integrating a model-based approach with the municipal co-creation efforts in a local energy transition setting. The study uses a mixed-methods approach, with both quantitative and qualitative methods underpinning the approach. A System Dynamics (SD) model is built to analyse the feedback loops created by the co-creation efforts of the municipalities in Skåne, Sweden to increase the uptake of household solar photovoltaics. Simultaneously, the model is conceptualized and built in coordination with the municipality actors, and qualitative validation provided by them. An iterative process is implemented, consisting of three steps: interaction with the municipality actors (MAs), developing the causal relationships between the model variables and model development. The suggestions and discussions with the MAs were very useful in understanding the social factors and processes which help in the diffusion of a technologically innovative product, such as solar PV. The MAs said that they found the explanation of the modelling variables useful in undertaking the co-creation efforts.

scholarly journals Energy Transition and Challenges of Bakeries' Cooking Choices in Abidjan, Côte D'Ivoire

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Salimata BERTE ◽  
Djane Dit Fatogoma ADOU
Keyword(s):  
Cote D'ivoire ◽  
Alternative Energy ◽  
Côte D’Ivoire ◽  
State Level ◽  
Energy Transition ◽  
Clean Energy ◽  
The State ◽  
Cote D’Ivoire ◽  
Côte D'ivoire ◽  
The Social

Abstract BackgroundHeavy dependence on firewood, associated with the demographic factor, logging, agricultural expansion and the repercussions of political instability are presented as factors of deforestation and forest degradation in Côte d'Ivoire. Faced with this situation, the country has been striving for many years to put in place a policy favorable to the protection of the environment through the promotion of alternative energy sources to firewood. However, observations are emerging in the field of bakery activity and call into question the social logic of the choice of baking energy. The bakery sector is presented as one of the main contributors to the erosion in the capital forest of the country because of its propensity to use firewood for cooking. Despite the policy of using butane and the tendency to promote "clean" energy at State level, fuelwood is by far the most widely used fuel in Abidjan. Until now, the social determinants of the continued use of firewood in these bakeries have rarely been considered.MethodThis study used a qualitative approach and the main data collection techniques used were semi-structured interviews, observation, and literature. Different interview guides were sent to two types of actors such as state and non-state actors. At the state level, sampled actors was determined through "snowball" sampling technique. Thematic content analysis was the technique used to analyze the data collected from interview guides.ResultEnergy transition in the subsector of bakery in Abidjan is hindered by the plurality of actors and the lack of clarity in the energy governance led to the higher consumption of firewood and other practices developed around bread production.ConclusionThree elements which structure the adoption of clean energies in bakeries in Abidjan which are the multi-level political willingness of the State and its long-term bilateral and multilateral partners, the immediate social pressure linked to the wood resource and the availability of infrastructures

scholarly journals The Energy Transition between profitability, participation and acceptance – considering the interests of project developers, residents, and environmentalists

2019 ◽  
Vol 49 ◽  
pp. 19-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephan Bosch ◽  
Joachim Rathmann ◽  
Lucas Schwarz
Keyword(s):  
Power Plants ◽  
Energy Transition ◽  
Energy System ◽  
Renewable Energies ◽  
Social Conflicts ◽  
System Transformation ◽  
Energy Technologies ◽  
Wind Power Plants ◽  
The Social ◽  
Planning Processes

Abstract. The number of actors in the German Energy Transition as well as the planning complexity increases and new spatial implications emerge in contrast to the conventional energy system. In planning processes for Renewable Energy Technologies mostly economic approaches are chosen, but simultaneously the number of social conflicts related to wind power plants or solar energy plants is on an all-time high. The aim of the study is therefore to identify the essential parameters of a sustainable expansion of renewable energies from the diversity of potential influencing factors and to illustrate them using a regional case study and GIS. The analyses reveal the great regional assertiveness of photovoltaics, whereby wind energy can assert itself due to social parameters also at some locations. Beyond this, it is to be stated that renewable energies find themselves in intense economic and social competition for space, although the most compatible spatial solutions have not always been able to prevail so far. Nevertheless, the presented approach offers a sophisticated method to minimize the social conflicts that arise in the context of the energy system transformation.

scholarly journals Accountability through Environmental and Social Reporting by Wind Energy Sector Companies in Spain

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (16) ◽  
pp. 6375 ◽  
Author(s):  
José A. Moseñe Fierro ◽  
M. Victoria Sanagustín-Fons ◽  
César Álvarez Alonso
Keyword(s):  
Wind Energy ◽  
Social Information ◽  
Secondary Analysis ◽  
Energy Transition ◽  
Energy Sector ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Environmental Reporting ◽  
Environmental Disclosure ◽  
The Social ◽  
Energy Companies

At present, energy transition is a crucial phenomenon that is at the very heart of governmental policies. There are a huge number of stakeholders involved in the change, but among these, the main socioeconomic actors that affect environmental and social impacts are energy companies. In this research, we analyze their institutionalized role in the Spanish wind energy sector, in the framework of the ecological movement. We consult the special views, opinions and motivations given by managers responsible for Institutional Relations in the main wind energy companies in Spain, and their perceptions of environmental reporting. We therefore tackle aspects related to the drivers of the social and environmental disclosure of environmental and social information. Research has been carried out based on documentary secondary analysis, and the use of a qualitative method with semi-structured interviews has revealed tendencies and pressures in the sector. Results suggest that the social context and public opinion pressure organizations to reveal environmental and social information. We also put forward how information is conveyed to the society through accountability practices, and the different institutionalized ways in which this is achieved.

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