Exploring Limited Capacity in the Grid: Actors, Problems, and Solutions

Abstract

An extensive and reliable electricity grid is essential for all the sectors of society. In parts of Sweden, the electricity grid has been suffering from a lack of capacity. This is something affecting all the sectors and all the people in these regions. The capacity problems have, however, so far, mainly been analyzed from a technical system perspective, focusing on incumbent actors, whereas other actors have been less researched. This article aims to fill this gap and include a variety of perceptions of Swedish actors’ on the lack of electricity grid capacity. It is, however, a challenge to capture the views of others than the professionals working in the area because the electricity grid is not something people, in general, reflect upon. The article takes an explorative approach to the subject by analyzing the problems and the solutions raised in four arenas: the regulative, the media, the technocratic, and the user. It also focuses on the city of Malmö in Sweden and two projects where the lack of grid capacity has been discussed. Sweden’s lack of capacity concerns that, although electricity is available, the energy grid cannot transmit the required amount of electricity to all parts of the country. The article concludes that the electricity grid has been developed within a technocratic frame, with a few professionals dominating the agenda, which has led to convergence of perspectives and narrowing options. In the regulative arena, which often decides what issues are prioritized and in the end implemented, there is a focus on investment in transformers and lines rather than demand-side solutions and user flexibility. Technological and economical values are dominating all arenas, and other values, such as user engagement and ownership, are marginalized.

Distributed Energy Systems and Energy Communities Under Negotiation

“…Off-grid solutions are typically expensive [48], and when standardized solutions are lacking, the conclusion that a microgrid in Sege Park would be neither economically nor environmentally beneficial is unsurprising. Studying the documentation connected to Sege Park, the consultancy reports and the presentations made during the dialogue meetings, it seems as though the key actors are locked into centralized solutions beneficial to incumbent actors such as the DSO in this case [49]. Decentralized ownership has been put forward as an enabler of the transition towards a more renewable energy system [50,51], but there are many barriers to such change.…”

The (in)visible Grid: Households’ Sensemaking of a Changing Power System

“…While anchoring and objecti cation are two common ways of using social representations theory, there are also other tools such as understanding through dialectal concepts and dichotomies, revealing the dynamics of the sensemaking process [26]. Even though the power system itself might not be entirely unfamiliar to households in Sweden, the idea of a dynamic and more unreliable power supply and power de ciency may be quite alien to those who for the past 40 years have not had to consider it [9,21]. Turning to scholars in science and technology studies (STS), Edwards [1] and Hughes [27] argue that infrastructural systems provide a comfortable utilization of natural resources.…”

“…This situation indicates the potential consequences individuals may encounter when the supply and utilization of fossil fuels experience disruptions. Furthermore, the Swedish grid is already facing challenges in terms of insu cient capacity and transmission [9][10][11]. The combination of high prices and power cuts suggests that in countries like Sweden, households are facing energy-related changes -or disruptions -that are already impacting or will impact everyday life.…”

The development of social science research on smart grids: a semi-structured literature review

“…The European Union's (EU's) Green Deal states that by 2030 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions should be reduced by at least 50%, and by 2050 there should be no net GHG emissions [1]. The energy sector is central to this transformation, and relevant measures will include increases in the electrification of infrastructure, such as transportation, renewable electricity generation, and penetration of information technology (IT), which allows for more flexible and less hierarchical infrastructure management [2][3][4][5][6]. This development will require the gradual evolution of distribution networks from passive to active and the development of so-called smart grids [7].…”