scholarly journals Citizen Energy Cooperatives in the Upper Rhine Region: Energy Transition and Social Transactions

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 12
Author(s):  
Philippe Hamman
Keyword(s):  
Energy Transition ◽  
Relational Approach ◽  
Production And Consumption ◽  
Technical Systems ◽  
Upper Rhine

Based on a sociological fieldwork study (on-site observations, about a hundred interviews and five participatory workshops) in the three French, German and Swiss parts of the Upper Rhine Region (URR), this paper focuses on citizen energy cooperatives through a relational approach (between different actors, between production and consumption, etc.), as pointed out by the literature both in terms of socio-technical systems and of social transactions, including hybridisations when moving from enunciations to practical and territorialised experiences.

A District Heating Socio-Technical System Approaching the Energy Transition

2021 ◽  
pp. 61-83
Author(s):  
Osman Arrobbio ◽  
Dario Padovan ◽  
Alessandro Sciullo
Keyword(s):  
District Heating ◽  
Energy Transition ◽  
Technical System ◽  
Full Potential ◽  
Urban District ◽  
Technical Problems ◽  
Energy Data ◽  
Funded Project ◽  
Technical Systems ◽  
Collaboration And Communication

This chapter describes the results of a sociological investigation carried out within an EU-funded project. The project was aimed at creating a tool to visualise and compute energy data at an urban district level, with the broader aim to optimise the local district heating (DH) network's distribution policies. This chapter identifies the features of the main categories of actors (from the DH operator to final users) having a role within that network. Special attention is paid to the identification of the barriers and frictions preventing a stronger collaboration and communication among these actors to happen. It is argued that the identification and resolution, in situated and complex socio-technical systems, of these non-strictly-technical problems may be, at least in some cases, a pre-requisite for any ICT-based solution to deploy its full potential.

Global Energy Cultures of Speed and Lightness: Materials, Mobilities and Transnational Power

2014 ◽  
Vol 31 (5) ◽  
pp. 127-154 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mimi Sheller
Keyword(s):  
Material Culture ◽  
Energy Transition ◽  
Power Grids ◽  
Figured Worlds ◽  
Aluminum Production ◽  
Industrial Complex ◽  
Production And Consumption ◽  
Production And Distribution ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Military

Following aluminum as part of a material culture of speed and lightness, this article examines how assemblages of energy and metals connect built environments, ways of life, and ideologies of acceleration. Aluminum can be theorized as a circulatory matrix that forms an energy culture. Through a discussion of speed and social justice, the history of aluminium-based socioecologies reveals how the materiality of energy forms assemblages of objects, infrastructures, and practices. The article then traces the aluminum industry’s involvement in the production and distribution of energy itself both at the national scale of power grids and in the emergence of transnational transfers of energy, such as hydropowered smelters in Iceland. Finally, this analysis of deeply embedded energy cultures calls for a transnational approach to the accelerated socioecologies of aluminum production and consumption; and for energy transition theories to pay closer attention to the figured worlds and figuring work of the military-industrial complex.

scholarly journals Digitalisation and sustainable energy transitions in Africa: assessing the impact of policy and regulatory environments on the energy sector in Nigeria and South Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fortune Nwaiwu
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Smart Grids ◽  
Sustainable Energy ◽  
Digital Technologies ◽  
Energy Systems ◽  
Energy Transition ◽  
Energy Sector ◽  
Use Cases ◽  
Energy Transitions ◽  
Production And Consumption

Abstract Background Digital technologies have unique characteristics for achieving radically disruptive transitions within the energy sector. They provide opportunities for new production and consumption models between micro-producers and consumers of electricity within communities in a way that transforms the traditional energy generation and consumption model. The study critically assessed the digitalisation of energy systems in Africa within the context of existing policy frameworks in the quest to achieve sustainable energy transitions in Africa. It investigated how digital technologies such as blockchain, digital platforms and smart grids were adopted and implemented within the energy sector to achieve new energy production and consumption models that are both environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive. This assessment was done within the context of existing policy and regulatory frameworks of the society where the use cases were domiciled. Methods The aim of the research was to investigate how sustainable energy transitions are being achieved in Nigeria and South Africa through the digitalisation of energy systems. A qualitative methodological approach was done in three stages—a document analysis that reviewed relevant literature on the energy sector policies in Nigeria and South Africa; the next step involved a comparative case study conducted to assess the characteristics of digital technology deployment in each country’s energy transition. Finally, outcomes of the comparative case studies were then situated within the context of existing policies within the countries covered by the study. Results Results from the research indicate that Africa is still in the early stages of adoption and application of digital technologies such as blockchain and smart grids within the energy sector. The results also showed a disconnect between the policy environment and industry efforts at achieving this. The current applications as exemplified in the use cases by the three companies covered in this study indicates that Africa's sustainable energy transition is in a rudimentary or early adoption stage, and they are not currently aided by the policy environments in which such projects are domiciled. Conclusions The research provides deep insights into the current state and developments within the energy sector especially in relation to how digital technologies are being adopted and implemented in solving the energy poverty prevalent across sub-Saharan Africa.

scholarly journals The Potential of Vehicle-to-Grid to Support the Energy Transition: A Case Study on Switzerland

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (16) ◽  
pp. 4812
Author(s):  
Loris Di Natale ◽  
Luca Funk ◽  
Martin Rüdisüli ◽  
Bratislav Svetozarevic ◽  
Giacomo Pareschi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Energy Storage ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
Energy Systems ◽  
Energy Transition ◽  
Energy Sources ◽  
Large Share ◽  
Vehicle To Grid ◽  
Production And Consumption ◽  
The Impact

Energy systems are undergoing a profound transition worldwide, substituting nuclear and thermal power with intermittent renewable energy sources (RES), creating discrepancies between the production and consumption of electricity and increasing their dependence on greenhouse gas (GHG) intensive imports from neighboring energy systems. In this study, we analyze the concurrent electrification of the mobility sector and investigate the impact of electric vehicles (EVs) on energy systems with a large share of renewable energy sources. In particular, we build an optimization framework to assess how Evs could compete and interplay with other energy storage technologies to minimize GHG-intensive electricity imports, leveraging the installed Swiss reservoir and pumped hydropower plants (PHS) as examples. Controlling bidirectional EVs or reservoirs shows potential to decrease imported emissions by 33–40%, and 60% can be reached if they are controlled simultaneously and with the support of PHS facilities when solar PV panels produce a large share of electricity. However, even if vehicle-to-grid (V2G) can support the energy transition, we find that its benefits will reach their full potential well before EVs penetrate the mobility sector to a large extent and that EVs only contribute marginally to long-term energy storage. Hence, even with a widespread adoption of EVs, we cannot expect V2G to single-handedly solve the growing mismatch problem between the production and consumption of electricity.

scholarly journals Energy Strategies, the Urban Dimension, and Spatial Planning

Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (14) ◽  
pp. 3642 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karishma Asarpota ◽  
Vincent Nadin
Keyword(s):  
Urban Development ◽  
Urban Form ◽  
Energy Transition ◽  
Energy System ◽  
World City ◽  
Efficient Energy ◽  
Production And Consumption ◽  
Key Factor ◽  
Key Aspects ◽  
Energy Strategies

The UN Paris Agreement of November 2016 recognises the need for a ‘cleaner and more efficient energy system’ as a core policy goal to address climate change. The spatial and urban form of cities is a key factor in achieving more efficient energy production and consumption and becomes more important with rapid urbanisation across much of the world. City urban form and planning are therefore potentially powerful levers for the energy transition. This paper examines the extent to which city ‘energy strategies’ address the critical spatial and urban form characteristics of cities as a means to achieve a more efficient energy system. We construct an assessment framework of key aspects of the spatial and urban development of cities related to transport and accessibility and urban form. The framework is used to assess the degree to which energy strategies take into consideration aspects of urban development in four cities that are taking significant action on the energy policy: Hong Kong Oakland, Oslo, and Vancouver. We conclude that in these cities there is only fragmentary consideration of the potential of shaping spatial and urban form in the interests of energy efficiency.

“To Save the Forests”

2015 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 125-155
Author(s):  
Matthew Vitz
Keyword(s):  
North Atlantic ◽  
Energy Transition ◽  
Household Energy ◽  
The North ◽  
Energy Needs ◽  
Production And Consumption ◽  
Energy History ◽  
Oil Wealth ◽  
Policy Shifts

During the 1940s, urban Mexico began to shift from fuelwood to petroleum for its household energy needs. I trace this energy transition in Mexico City, interweaving histories of production and consumption, city and hinterland. The household energy transition highlights a series of overlapping policy shifts in 1940s Mexico: a retreat from rural social justice and the support of urban industrialization that pivoted on the redistribution of national oil wealth. By underscoring the role of political power in energy transitions, I also contribute to the larger field of energy history, which has prioritized energy regimes in the North Atlantic. En el México urbano, durante la década de los cuarenta, el consumo doméstico de energía pasó del combustible vegetal al petróleo. En este artículo doy cuenta de este cambio energético en la ciudad de México, intercalando historias de producción y consumo, de la ciudad y el hinterland. Esta transición en la energía doméstica señala una acumulación de cambios en la política de 1940 en México: un retroceso en la justicia social rural y el apoyo de una industrialización urbana que giró alrededor de la redistribución nacional de la riqueza petrolera. Al enfatizar el papel del poder político en las transiciones energéticas, contribuyo al campo más amplio de la historia de la energía que le ha dado más prioridad a los sistemas energéticos en el Atlántico Norte.

scholarly journals The Italian energy transition in a multilevel system: between reinforcing dynamics and institutional constraints

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Rosaria Di Nucci ◽  
Andrea Prontera
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Energy Transition ◽  
Energy System ◽  
Structural Constraints ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Production And Consumption ◽  
Decision Making Processes ◽  
Path Dependent ◽  
Modes Of Governance ◽  
Current Energy

AbstractThe article analyses drivers as well as coordination mechanisms and instruments for the energy transition in Italy from a multilevel governance perspective. It addresses the structural constraints that influenced the decision-making processes and organisation of the Italian energy sector and the socio-technical challenges opened up by enhancing renewables. The current energy system is making the move from a centralised, path-dependent institutional and organisational structure to a more fragmented and pluralistic one. Renewables and decentralised patterns of production and consumption are key elements of this paradigmatic shift, which is paralleled by a multiplication of decision-making arenas and actors. These actors follow different interests, problem understandings and green growth narratives, increasing the complexity of governing the energy transition. Against this background, community-based renewable energy policy is assuming a very important role and Italy is putting efforts to establish an enabling framework in line with the requirements of the European Union. The goal of this strategy is to foster a positive link between acceptance of the energy transition and decentralised local activities. In the conclusion we address problems and barriers to new modes of governance, and discuss possible approaches to improved cooperation.

scholarly journals Measurement of Fairness Perceptions in Energy Transition Research: A Factorial Survey Approach

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (19) ◽  
pp. 8084
Author(s):  
Ulf Liebe ◽  
Geesche M. Dobers
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Energy Transition ◽  
Factorial Survey ◽  
Perceived Fairness ◽  
Energy Research ◽  
Production And Consumption ◽  
Energy Projects ◽  
Survey Experiments ◽  
Transition Research ◽  
Survey Approach

Justice and fairness are increasingly popular concepts in energy research and comprise several justice dimensions, including distributive and procedural justice, related to energy production and consumption. In this paper, we used factorial survey experiments—a method employed in sociological justice research—for energy transition research. In a factorial survey, respondents evaluated one or more situations described by several attributes, which varied in their levels. The experimental setup of factorial surveys is one of its advantages over simple survey items, as based on this, the relative importance of each attribute for justice evaluations can be determined. We employed the method in a study on the perceived fairness of renewable energy expansion projects related to wind energy, solar energy, and biomass in Germany, and considered aspects of procedural and distributive justice. We show that the effects of these justice dimensions can be separated and the heterogeneity in justice evaluations can be explained. Compared to previous studies applying factorial survey experiments to explain the acceptance of renewable energy projects, we employed the method to directly measure justice concerns and asked respondents to evaluate the vignettes in terms of perceived fairness. This is important because acceptance and fairness as well as inequality and injustice are different phenomena.

scholarly journals Stakeholders’ Perceptions of the Possible Energy Sustainability Solutions in the Hotels of the Canary Islands

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (12) ◽  
pp. 6943
Author(s):  
Andrés Lorente de las Casas ◽  
Ivelina Mirkova ◽  
Francisco J. Ramos-Real
Keyword(s):  
Canary Islands ◽  
Q Methodology ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Rank Order ◽  
Energy Transition ◽  
Heat Pumps ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Transition Strategy ◽  
Production And Consumption ◽  
Administrative Procedures

Energy production and consumption represent the most significant sources of CO2 emissions in the world. An isolated island scenario such as the case of the Canary Islands, where dependence on fossil fuels is almost complete needs an effective integrative strategy for energy efficiency in order to reduce the carbon footprint. The objective of our work is to propose an effective design for an integrative and sustainable energy transition strategy in the hotel sector of the Islands. To achieve this, we implement a qualitative/quantitative technique called Q methodology. Our study was conducted with a carefully selected group of 31 experts from diverse areas related to the energy sector who were asked to rank-order their degree of agreement or disagreement with 30 key energy discourses (statements). The results of our analysis identify four profiles of stakeholders’ mindsets: the “Low-carbon”, the “Techies”, the “Skeptics”, and the “Trusting”. A well-defined integrative strategy could be identified which includes self-consumption using renewable energies, simplification of the administrative procedures, and promotion of the use of heat pumps, among others. A further interesting consensus result among all four groups reveals experts’ uncertainty regarding the post-COVID-19 reality.

scholarly journals PECULIARITIES OF REFORMING THE ENERGY RESOURCES MARKET OF UKRAINE

Management ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 115-127
Author(s):  
Ivan V. Solonenchuk
Keyword(s):  
System Analysis ◽  
Energy Transition ◽  
Petroleum Products ◽  
Primary Energy ◽  
Green Energy ◽  
Energy Resources ◽  
Energy Market ◽  
Systematic Analysis ◽  
Production And Consumption ◽  
Regulation Reform

Introduction. Ukraine is characterized by a certain energy dependence, as in most European countries, but its excessive dependence on external monopoly sources of fuel and energy resources has been and is one of the major threats to both energy security and national security in general. The main means to counteract these threats is to diversify not only the sources and routes of transportation of energy resources, but also energy technologies, the system of production and consumption of energy resources.Hypothesis: introduction of the model of configuration regulation / reform of the energy market will allow to move to a climate-neutral development of Ukraine by 2050 within the framework of the program "European Green Deal", to significantly accelerate energy transformations.The purpose of the study is to justify and develop practical recommendations for reforming the energy market in Ukraine.Methods of research: statistical analysis – for comparative analysis and determination of dynamics of production and consumption of basic energy resources; system analysis – to substantiate and develop a model of configuration regulation / reform of the energy market.Results: The dynamics of primary energy consumption are analyzed: coal, crude oil and petroleum products, natural gas, electricity / hydropower, nuclear, wind, solar, bio, heat. A systematic analysis of energy supply was carried out, optimistic, realistic and pessimistic forecasts of Ukraine's fuel and energy balance until 2035 were constructed. Developed and proposed to use a configuration regulation / reform model to implement energy market reform.Conclusions: implementation of the model of configuration regulation / reformation of the energy market will allow to implement measures for rational use of energy resources, to reduce the energy intensity of the gross domestic product. The formation of effective tools for reforming the energy market will allow to implement the main principles of the Concept of "green" energy transition of Ukraine to 2050.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document