In: Jensen , L K & Sperling , K 2016 , Who should own the nearshore wind turbines? A case study of the Wind & Welfare project . Institut for Planlægning, Aalborg Universitet .
This report examines the possibility for non-profit organisations to participate in tenders for nearshore wind turbines in Denmark under the current frame-work conditions in the area. The point of departure is a case study of the non-profit organisation Wind People's attempt to participate with a popular project in the Danish tender for 350 MW nearshore wind turbines. A series of in-depth interviews have been carried out with Wind People's staff in order to make an in-depth analysis of their actions and experiences of entering into the market for nearshore wind turbines. The report concludes that it is not possible for non-profit organisations to participate with popular projects in connection with tenders for nearshore wind turbines in Denmark under the current framework conditions. Therefore, it is necessary to make a modification of the framework conditions. In itself, this is not sufficient to pave the way for non-profit organisations to be able to enter the market, however, as the study shows that the established actors in the market also have a large influence on who is allowed to enter the market. The results of the report are a number of recommendations to the Danish politicians and the Danish Energy Agency aimed at measures that can help to ensure broader competition at future tenders for offshore wind turbines in Denmark. In preparation for tender conditions in connection with tenders, it is for in-stance recommended that an analysis is conducted on how the various groups of stakeholders are organised in order to be able to prepare appropriate pre-qualification requirements. Furthermore, a number of recommendations have been prepared for non-profit organisations that wish to participate in future tenders in Denmark. One of the recommendations is that the non-profit organisations should activate their academic professional network to pull the strings and get in touch with relevant persons and actors when organising a tender or a project.
This paper explores how grassroots innovations are being framed in the news media in Denmark, the Netherlands and Sweden. By using framing analysis of newspaper items in the three countries, based on 30 cases, we identify that compared to literature on framing of renewable energy, the results show a prevalence of frames labeled as "social" aswell as positive framing in the media when reporting about grassroots innovations. There are differences between the countries, as social frames are significantly more common in the Netherlands while innovation stands out in Denmark. We argue that this reflects the energy landscapes in the countries, as grades of centralization and to which extent the country has transformed the energy system impact on how the grassroots innovations are being reported. Aspects of energy democratization is reflected in the reporting's as emphasis is often on local connection and benefits for communities and individuals. We finally argue that there is need for more studies on framing on grassroots innovations. ; Funding: Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (NWO)Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO) [438-14-801]; Strategiske Forskningsrad [4194-00001B]; Svenska Forskningsradet Formas, as part of the JPI Climate Joint Call for Transnatio
In: Magnusson , D , Sperling , K , Veenman , S & Oteman , M I 2021 , ' News Media Framing of Grassroots Innovations in Denmark, the Netherlands and Sweden ' , Environmental Communication , vol. 15 , no. 5 , pp. 641-662 . https://doi.org/10.1080/17524032.2021.1880460
This paper explores how grassroots innovations are being framed in the news media in Denmark, the Netherlands and Sweden. By using framing analysis of newspaper items in the three countries, based on 30 cases, we identify that compared to literature on framing of renewable energy, the results show a prevalence of frames labeled as "social" as well as positive framing in the media when reporting about grassroots innovations. There are differences between the countries, as social frames are significantly more common in the Netherlands while innovation stands out in Denmark. We argue that this reflects the energy landscapes in the countries, as grades of centralization and to which extent the country has transformed the energy system impact on how the grassroots innovations are being reported. Aspects of energy democratization is reflected in the reporting's as emphasis is often on local connection and benefits for communities and individuals. We finally argue that there is need for more studies on framing on grassroots innovations.
"This book deepens our understanding of ethical drivers in energy policy and contributes to future decision-making on transitions towards a sustainable energy system. During the latest fifty years Western energy politics have been faced with a series of ethical challenges including rapid growth, oil crises, security of supply, nuclear power and climate change. Combining philosophical, historical and planning approaches into one narrative, these dilemmas are explored using Denmark as the key case study. Drawing on contributions from several experts in the field, the ethics of energy is investigated from multiple perspectives at the individual, corporate, local and national levels, focusing on concrete decisions where different ethical considerations are weighted against each other. This comprehensive approach helps to gain a deeper understanding of the energy sector's history and gives important input to its future layout. Drawing comparisons with European and global examples, this book will be of great interest to students and scholars of energy politics and policy, environmental ethics, climate change and sustainability transitions."
"This book deepens our understanding of ethical drivers in energy policy and contributes to future decision-making on transitions towards a sustainable energy system. During the latest fifty years Western energy politics have been faced with a series of ethical challenges including rapid growth, oil crises, security of supply, nuclear power and climate change. Combining philosophical, historical and planning approaches into one narrative, these dilemmas are explored using Denmark as the key case study. Drawing on contributions from several experts in the field, the ethics of energy is investigated from multiple perspectives at the individual, corporate, local and national levels, focusing on concrete decisions where different ethical considerations are weighted against each other. This comprehensive approach helps to gain a deeper understanding of the energy sector's history and gives important input to its future layout. Drawing comparisons with European and global examples, this book will be of great interest to students and scholars of energy politics and policy, environmental ethics, climate change and sustainability transitions"--
In: Sperling , K , Madsen , P T , Gorroño-Albizu , L & Mathiesen , B V 2021 , Denmark without Oil and Gas Production: Opportunities and Challenges . Aalborg University .
Denmark has gradually reconsidered its status as a major oil and gas producer and, through the 2020 North Sea Agreement, has set 2050 as the end date to produce fossil fuels. The Agreement is framed within a just transition perspective, but how just the transition will be for the oil and gas sector and beyond remains to be seen. This report attempts to answer the following questions: - What is the background, which are the processes and conditions behind the Danish 'oil stop', and is this compatible with a just transition for the oil and gas industry? - Which challenges, opportunities and further action points arise from the Danish oil phase out? - Which lessons can be learned from the Danish case? The questions are answered through a mixed approach which analyses relevant policy and legal documents, statistics, and previous research, and is supported by 9 semi-structured interviews with key Danish stakeholders. The economic significance of the Danish oil and gas sector has been decreasing for a long time. Partly because of this, the North Sea Agreement has received widespread support at political level and from the industry. Carbon capture, utilisation, and storage (CCUS), offshore wind power, as well as power-to-X and green fuels are being explored and supported by the state and the market. New business ventures, especially related to offshore wind, are cushioning some of the negative effects on employment in the sector. Beyond that, the transition is affecting the number of jobs in two ways. On one hand, many offshore workers are close to retirement and are likely to need special attention. On the other smaller suppliers, unable to restructure, may be disproportionally impacted by the phase out. Economic rather than moral arguments have fuelled the phase out decision, but the process has also been mediated through a close dialogue with authorities in the main oil and gas region, around Esbjerg, and the oil and gas industry, which has committed to explore cleaner business avenues. The versatility of both the workforce and businesses, and a strong renewable energy base, are expected to soften the negative impacts of the oil and gas transition. This report focuses on the conditions of the phase out in Denmark, but to fully understand the extent to which the Danish example could be emulated by other oil-producing countries requires supplementary in-depth analysis.
The speed and progress of transitions towards renewable energy systems varies greatly between European member states. Among others, these differences have been attributed to the emergence of grassroots initiatives (GIs) that develop radical ideas and sustainable practices. The goal of this paper is to understand the differences in the emergence of GIs for renewable energy in relation to the institutional characteristics of Denmark, the Netherlands and Sweden. We analyze the possibilities of GIs to emerge and act within three dimensions: the material-economic, the actor-institutional and discursive dimension. We conclude that conditional factors lie within the material-economic dimension in terms of the biophysical conditions, the structure of the economy, energy dependency and the energy market. Within the actor-institutional dimension, we conclude that the presence or absence of fossil fuel incumbents, such as regional utilities, strongly influence the possibilities of GIs. Within the discursive dimension, openness for alternative discourses proved to be enabling for GI-activities, as well as democratized knowledge production. In addition to these conditions of possibility, GIs can also act despite dominant institutions, albeit limited. Finally, GIs need a strong network with knowledge institutes, technology developers and political parties in order to achieve institutional change that enables GIs to flourish. Without institutional space, GIs remain subjected to the dominant power-relations, and cannot exert much influence upon the energy system.
In: Kooij , H-J , Oteman , M I , Veenman , S , Sperling , K , Magnusson , D , Palm , J & Hvelplund , F K 2018 , ' Between grassroots and treetops : community power and institutional dependence in the renewable energy sector in Denmark, Sweden and the Netherlands ' , Energy Research and Social Science , vol. 37 , pp. 52-64 . https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2017.09.019
The speed and progress of transitions towards renewable energy systems varies greatly between European member states. Among others, these differences have been attributed to the emergence of grassroots initiatives (GIs) that develop radical ideas and sustainable practices. The goal of this paper is to understand the differences in the emergence of GIs for renewable energy in relation to the institutional characteristics of Denmark, the Netherlands and Sweden. We analyze the possibilities of GIs to emerge and act within three dimensions: the material-economic, the actor-institutional and discursive dimension. We conclude that conditional factors lie within the material-economic dimension in terms of the biophysical conditions, the structure of the economy, energy dependency and the energy market. Within the actor-institutional dimension, we conclude that the presence or absence of fossil fuel incumbents, such as regional utilities, strongly influence the possibilities of GIs. Within the discursive dimension, openness for alternative discourses proved to be enabling for GI-activities, as well as democratized knowledge production. In addition to these conditions of possibility, GIs can also act despite dominant institutions, albeit limited. Finally, GIs need a strong network with knowledge institutes, technology developers and political parties in order to achieve institutional change that enables GIs to flourish. Without institutional space, GIs remain subjected to the dominant power-relations, and cannot exert much influence upon the energy system.
In: Connolly , D , Mathiesen , B V , Lund , H , Møller , B , Hvelplund , F K , Sperling , K , Østergaard , P A & Werner , S 2015 , Heat Roadmap Europe : Inputs for Technical Modelling and Policy Recommendations .
This document is a summary of the key technical inputs for the modelling of the heat strategy for Europe outlined in the latest Heat Roadmap Europe studies [1, 2]. These studies quantify the impact of alternative heating strategies for Europe in 2030 and 2050. The study is based on geographical information systems (GIS) and energy system analyses. In this report, the inputs for other modelling tools such as PRIMES are presented, in order to enable other researches to generate similar heating scenarios for Europe. Although Heat Roadmap Europe presents a complete heat strategy for Europe, which includes energy efficiency, individual heating units (such as boilers and heat pumps), and heat networks, the recommendations here are primarily relating to the potential and modelling of district heating. Although other solutions will play a significant role in decarbonising the heating and cooling sector, especially heat savings and heat pumps, these are not the focus in this document since many tools and organisations already have the ability to analyse these solutions. In contrast, there is currently a considerable shortage of basic knowledge about the modelling, implementation, and role of district heating in a low-carbon energy system context, so we have focused on this area based on our extensive experience in this area [1-10]. This report includes guidelines on the potential heat demand in European buildings that can be met by district heating as well as some general guidelines on how this district heating demand can be supplied. Typical capacities are recommended for boilers, combined heat and power (CHP) plants, centralised heat pumps, and thermal storage facilities. In addition, the potential heat available from surplus heat and renewable heat sources is outlined. These inputs can be used to model increased penetrations of district heating in the EU energy system in other energy planning tools, such as the PRIMES and JRC-EU-TIMES tools. The key results from the Heat Roadmap Europe studies are that: Heat savings have a key role to play, but there is a socio-economic limit: after reducing the total heat demand by approximately 30-50%, it will be cheaper to supply heat from a sustainable resource instead of continuing with further savings, which can also enable a higher penetration of renewable energy due to cost shifted from savings and due to the availability of low cost waste heat sources. District heating should be implemented in the urban areas of Europe where the heat density is high enough. Heat pumps should be the primary individual heating solution in rural areas, but they will be supplemented by biomass boilers and solar thermal units in suitable locations. The scale and locations of these individual heating solutions has yet to be determined. By implementing these measures, the Heat Roadmap Europe studies have indicated that it is possible to reduce the overall socio-economic costs of the EU energy system while simultaneously reducing carbon dioxide emissions and increasing the utilisation of renewable energy. To supplement these technical recommendations, this document also gives a flavour of the key policies which can be used to stimulate the growth of district heating in Europe. The key conclusion from these recommendations is that the European Union has a key role to play in the legislation of district heating, even though the implementation is required at a Member State (MS) level.
Wissenschaftlich-technische Innovationen, eine Vielzahl von etablierten beziehungsweise neuen Anwendungen sowie die politischen Bemühungen um eine spezifische Gesetzgebung belegen die Aktualität des Themas Gendiagnostik in Deutschland. Vor diesem Hintergrund informiert das vorliegende Supplement über neueste technische Entwicklungen, es liefert einen Überblick über die aktuellen rechtlichen Rahmenbedingungen und diskutiert einzelne Anwendungsfelder molekulargenetischer Diagnostik. Außerdem erörtert es Fragen nach dem Status und der Regulierung von genetischer Information und präsentiert ausgewählte Daten zu den aktuellen Entwicklungen in Deutschland.