No abstract

The study focuses on the challenging complexity of the energy industry transformation. Despite sustainability and climate concerns the exploitation of conventional oil and natural gas resources is ongoing. We investigate the case of Arctic offshore oil and natural gas resources exploitation through a set of interviews, providing two national examples of Norway and Russia. The study design and methodology are inspired by a multi-level perspective framework (MLP) to large socio-technical systems. We focus on the interaction between the landscape and regime levels of the energy industry. The MLP analysis shows that Norway and Russia act differently under the same landscape factors and adjust on the regime level according to their national goals. We conclude that the landscape level does not shape the regime level equally, which complicates the transformational processes in the energy industry. The paper contributes to the sustainability transitions literature through a rarely investigated case, and suggests theoretical implications regarding the interactions between the regime and landscape levels of MLP. The paper introduces a different analytical perspective for scholars of Arctic studies.

No abstract

No abstract

The Arctic is a specific geographical region with extreme climate conditions, vulnerable environment, but rather intensive ongoing industrialization. The Arctic requires alternative solutions to provide energy supply to the energy consumers due to the growing energy demand and small-scale decentralized character of energy supply. At the moment, the largest part of energy consumption in the region is covered by hydrocarbon energy resources delivered from the mainland. Renewable energy technologies may be efficiently implemented to cover the needs of small scale decentralized energy consumers in the Russian Arctic, but at the moment they are applied on a very modest scale. The current study analyses and discusses the main challenges and risks related to renewable energy resources use in the Russian Arctic. Further, the study elaborates on the issues related to the environmental challenges and climate change-related threats, their relationship and influence on the technological choices of the future energy supply in the region, addressing the perspectives of sustainable development of the Russian Arctic.

The global energy system is experiencing a transformation. An analysis of the dynamics of global energy production and consumption indicates that a paradigm shift is occurring toward more reliable and sustainable energy sources with the dominance of natural gas. Even though the reserves-to-production ratio for hydrocarbons is declining, it is natural gas that can ensure the sustainable development of the energy system to meet the growing energy needs of humankind. Natural gas can also significantly reduce the environmental burden. In the medium term, it will be the main source of energy along a gradual transition to renewable energy. Natural gas can serve as a transition fuel within a broader deployment of hybrid energy technologies. Hybridization—the generation of energy using both fossil fuels and renewable energy sources—is one of the most promising areas of energy system development, contributing to a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. In our opinion, hybridization based on natural gas is a “bridge to the future” for the world energy system.

No abstract

No abstract