Regional Energy Transitions Research Articles

Vertical profiles of sedimentary polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and black carbon in the Gulf of Gdańsk (Poland) and Oslofjord/Drammensfjord (Norway), and their relation to regional energy transitions

The analysis of undisturbed sediment cores is a powerful tool for understanding spatial and temporal impacts of anthropogenic emissions from the energy and transport sectors at a regional scale. The spatial and vertical distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and black carbon (BC) were determined in 12 cores of recent (up to 20cm long) sediments from the Gulf of Gdańsk in Poland, and Oslofjord/Drammensfjord in Norway. The Σ12PAHs levels in individual sediment layers varied from 250 to 4500ng/g d.w. in the Gulf of Gdańsk, and from 210 to 4580ng/g d.w. in the Norwegian fjords. Analysis of PAH ratios indicates that PAHs in both studied areas originated mainly from pyrogenic sources. The BC concentrations in sediments were up to 0.9% and were generally higher in the Gulf of Gdańsk (mean - 0.39%) than in Oslofjord/Drammensfjord (mean - 0.19%). The deposition history of anthropogenic emissions over the last 100years was reconstructed based on the analysis of dated and well-laminated sediment cores from two stations from the Gulf of Gdańsk and two stations from the Norwegian fjords. The evolution in energy structure was especially evident in the Oslofjord, where transition from fossil fuel combustion to hydropower after 1960 coincided with a sharp decrease in sedimentary PAHs. Despite significant changes in the economic development in Poland, temporal patterns in PAH concentrations/profiles in the Gulf of Gdańsk were not as obvious. The historical PAH trends in the Gulf of Gdańsk may be related to the overwhelming PAH inputs from domestic combustion of solid fuels (coal, wood) for heating purposes. The implementation of legislation and other activities addressed to restrict the use of solid fuels in residential heating should reduce PAH emissions.

How to find a needle in a haystack?: a theory-driven approach to social network analysis of regional energy transitions

Social network analysis bears great potential for the study of complex social transition processes such as regional energy transitions. The complexity of the social processes results from a lack of empirical research, that utilises social network analysis. With this complexity come the difficulties in collecting relevant and sufficient empirical data. In this paper, we propose conceptual framework to select relevant cases, interviewees, and influencing factors for the empirical analysis of complex network dynamics. We base our conceptualisation on mainstream literature on socio-technical levels, phase-models of innovation processes, and social, economic, and political factors influencing the regional energy transition. We apply the case of a local and regional energy transition in a German county. We argue that the conceptual framework serves as a guiding system to a more thorough analysis of social network dynamics within complex social transition processes. It allows formulating hypotheses about different pathways and network dynamics.

How to find a needle in a haystack?: a theory-driven approach to social network analysis of regional energy transitions

How to find a needle in a haystack?: a theory-driven approach to social network analysis of regional energy transitions

Transforming the Nicaraguan energy mix towards 100% renewable

Nicaragua is an underdeveloped Central American country of 130, 373 km2 with a population of 6.2 million inhabitants, 90% electricity access and 672 MW of peak demand. Currently, the electricity mix is nearly 50% renewable but the entire energy system is highly dependent on fossil fuels and biomass. This work aims to show potential for a renewable transformation of the Nicaraguan energy system. With a substantial renewable energy potential (geothermal, wind, solar, etc.) and no proven reserves of oil, coal and gas, neither in Nicaragua nor in Central America, an Integrated Resource Planning (IRP) for the electric sector was developed. The potential renewable transformation of the entire electric sector would create positive technical and economic conditions to the penetration of electric mobility. The results of this work indicate that optimal integrated renewable expansion mix will require prioritize the development of geothermal (high capacity factor to meet the base load with the lowest cost), wind, hydro and biomass sources and energy-efficiency programs. Although the potential use of electrical vehicles brings positive environmental impacts, from consumers' perspective electric vehicles are not cost-effective with current oil prices and relative high prices of electric vehicles. Thus, it will be necessary national and regional public policies in order to trigger the energy mix transformation and the introduction of electric mobility. This seminal work is the base for a further detailed research and proposing a regional energy transition initiative to be extended for Central American countries with similar characteristics and interconnected by a regional network; gaining scale for regional electric mobility.

Facilitating Regional Energy Transition Strategies: Toward a Typology of Regions

The regional level is essential for the use of renewable energies since on this level national political goals are harmonized with implementation activities. Hence, regional strategies can, we argue, be useful. Yet, these strategies must be tailored to meet a variety of contextual conditions. Within this study, we identified natural and socio-economic conditions that need to be considered when developing regional strategies for Energiewende. Focusing on these conditions, we conducted a multivariate statistical analysis of all 412 German districts (Landkreise). We identified nine energy context types characterized by different renewable energy potentials and socio-economic conditions. We propose to develop one generic regional energy transition strategy for each of the energy context types. These can serve as a governance tool that operationalizes and allocates national Energiewende goals according to regional contextual conditions. Moreover, the energy context types may support regional decision makers by allowing them to prioritize steps in the transition process, to establish networks with, and to learn from, similar regions.

P.4.007 - Nicotine deprivation and craving in smokers are positively related to improved inhibition in smoking-related contexts

This paper assesses the role of carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS) in addressing challenges in the energy transition in regions reliant on carbon-intensive industries for employment and as an economic base. The assessment is based on semi-structured interviews with relevant stakeholders and experts in the Aberdeen area in Scotland, the Rotterdam harbour (or Rijnmond) area in the Netherlands, and in Norway. The interviews explored challenges around the role of CCS in regional ‘just transitions’, or how to make the transformation of regions relying on carbon-intensive industries to a low-carbon society fair. While significant differences in responses between the Aberdeen area, the Rijnmond area and Norway were found, a common understanding showed that for CCS to contribute to a just transition it has to (a) make a contribution to climate change imperatives; (b) help to mitigate the economic and employment effects arising from declining or maturing industries; and (c) be undertaken in a manner that helps to redress (or at least does not increase) uneven vulnerabilities and inequalities in society. Five key themes that characterise the opportunities and challenges for CCS from a just transition perspective were drawn from the interviews: Skills for a just transition, transition as an opportunity, responsibility, scale of action and viability. We recommend that these are added to earlier work on barriers and enablers of CCS in areas relying on fossil industry.

Is it all about collaborative governance? Alternative ways of understanding the success of energy regions

This paper calls into question a main assumption of governance research that the success of regional energy transitions depends to a large extent on collaborative governance structures. The role of network-based governance in two regions, Lüchow-Dannenberg and Prignitz, is analysed. Alternative ways of understanding the success of energy transitions are discussed with the help of three strands of critical governance literature: debates about ‘socio-materiality’, the often neglected role of power and key individuals. Especially power and the ‘material’ dimension of energy regions may help to explain interregional differences in the success of energy governance.

Handlungsfelder von Stadt-Umland-Kooperationen für eine Energieversorgung mit erneuerbaren Energien

Viele Kommunen in Deutschland verfolgen das Ziel, ihre Energieversorgung vollständig auf erneuerbare Energien umzustellen. Stadt-UmlandKooperationen bieten hierfür substanzielle Potenziale. Elf Handlungsfelder, die vor allem die Steuerung der Kooperationen sowie die Vernetzung und Einbindung von Akteuren betreffen, sind besonders relevant.Urban-rural cooperations (URC) play an Important role in the success of Implementing a regional energy system based on renewable energy sources. A significant reason for this is that cities are seldom able to cover their energy needs with renewables alone. URC offer various opportunities for enabling such regional energy transition processes. Drawing on the concept of regional governance, this article aims to systematically outline different action areas for URC that are important for regional energy transition processes, and to demonstrate the concrete potentials of URC in these areas. Based on document analysis, expert interviews and three German case studies, we have identified eleven relevant action areas for the governance of URC in reaching energy goals as well as connecting and integrating different actors. The results can be used by municipalities to determine whether a URC can facilitate the energy transition processes in their specific context.

Whose energy transition is it, anyway? Organisation and ownership of the Energiewende in villages, cities and regions

As one of the most ambitious national energy transition initiatives worldwide, the German Energiewende is attracting a huge amount of attention globally in both policy and research circles. The paper explores the implementation of Germany's energy transition through the lens of organisation and ownership in urban and regional contexts. Following a summary of the principal institutional challenges of the Energiewende at local and regional levels the paper develops a novel way of conceptualising the institutional to urban and regional energy transitions in terms of agency and power, ideas and discourse, and commons and ownership. This analytical heuristic is applied to a two-tier empirical study of the Berlin–Brandenburg region. The first tier involves a survey of the organisational landscape of energy infrastructures and services in cities, towns and villages in Brandenburg. The second tier comprises a case study of current, competing initiatives for (re-)gaining ownership of the power grid and utility in Berlin. The paper draws conclusions on the diverse and dynamic organisational responses to the Energiewende at the local level, what these tell us about urban and regional energy governance and how they are inspired by – or in opposition to – new forms of collective ownership resonant of recent debates on reclaiming the commons. It concludes with observations on how relational approaches to institutional research and the notion of the commons can guide and inspire future research on socio-technical transitions in general, and urban energy transitions in particular.