New tools in local energy planning: experimenting with scenarios, public participation and environmental assessment

Ivner, Jenny; Björklund, Anna; Dreborg, Karl-Henrik; Johansson, Jessica; Viklund, Per; Wiklund, Hans

doi:10.1080/13549830903527639

Cited by 16 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…As a result: the burden is placed on publics to engage with, change, get in line, or respond to trajectories and definitions of 'the energy transition' defined by others (most often institutional authorities, whether that be science, the state or industry). (Chilvers, Pallett, & Hargreaves, 2015, p. 14; see also Laird, 2013) This approach is noticeable in the context of research on energy transitions and climate change adaptation, in which certain future realities (low-carbon systems and lifestyles, a different climate) are assumed from the outside, and citizens (not necessarily residents of a place under discussion) are engaged with (energy) transitions by being invited to give their opinions and contribute local knowledge (for recent examples, see, for example, Burch, Sheppard, Shaw, & Flanders, 2010;Eames, Dixon, May, & Hunt, 2013;Fortes, Alvarenga, Seixas, & Rodrigues, 2015;Gansmo, 2012;Ivner et al, 2010;and Sheppard et al, 2011). Consequently, there are few opportunities for residents of neighbourhoods to engage with the future of the energy system on their own terms to influence it according to locally held values and visions of the good life.…”

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Co-producing energy futures: impacts of participatory modelling

Krzywoszynska

Buckley

Birch

et al. 2016

Building Research & Information

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This transdisciplinary research case study sought to disrupt the usual ways public participation shapes future energy systems. An interdisciplinary group of academics and a self-assembling public of a North English town co-produced 'bottom-up' visions for a future local energy system by emphasizing local values, aspirations and desires around energy futures. The effects of participatory modelling are considered as part of a community visioning process on participants' social learning and social capital. This paper examines both the within-process dynamics related to models and the impact of the outside process, political use of the models by the participants. Both a numerical model (to explore local electricity generation and demand) and a physical scale model of the town were developed to explore various aspects of participants' visions. The case study shows that collaborative visioning of local energy systems can enhance social learning and social capital of communities. However, the effect of participatory modelling on these benefits is less clear. Tensions arise between 'inspiring' and 'empowering' role of visions. It is argued that the situatedness of the visioning processes needs to be recognized and integrated within broader aspects of governance and power relations.Keywords: agency, built environment, cooperation, co-production, energy model, renewable energy, resilience, social capitalIntroduction: bottom-up engagement with future energy systemsThe UK energy system is changing, with a transition from a high dependence on fossil fuels to a more complex, varied and intermittent energy supply landscape. The consequences of this for the socio-material environment of neighbourhoods is significant; however, democratic involvement in the shaping of energy futures remains low (Seyfang, Park, & Smith, 2013;Walker & Devine-Wright, 2008). While there is a long legacy of involving local publics in re-imagining the built fabric of their neighbourhoods (Aylett, 2013), this participatory approach has not been brought to bear on the interaction between landscapes, built environment and future energy systems. Adopting what Chilvers and Kearnes (2015) term 'residual realist' understandings of the public and of participation, dominant approaches to societal engagement BUILDING RESEARCH & INFORMATION 2016 Vol. 44, No. 7, 804-815, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09613218.2016 # Gansmo, 2012;Ivner et al., 2010; and Sheppard et al., 2011). Consequently, there are few opportunities for residents of neighbourhoods to engage with the future of the energy system on their own terms to influence it according to locally held values and visions of the good life.This paper presents a case study of a transdisciplinary research project called Solar Energy in Future Societies (SEFS) that sought to disrupt the usual ways public participation in the shaping of future energy systems is performed. The project brought together an interdisciplinary group of academics and a self-assembling public at the town of Stocksbridge, in the Sheffield area o...

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confidence: 99%

“…44, No. 7, 804-815, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09613218.2016 # Gansmo, 2012;Ivner et al, 2010; and Sheppard et al, 2011). Consequently, there are few opportunities for residents of neighbourhoods to engage with the future of the energy system on their own terms to influence it according to locally held values and visions of the good life.…”

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confidence: 99%

Co-producing energy futures: impacts of participatory modelling

Krzywoszynska

Buckley

Birch

et al. 2016

Building Research & Information

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“…Even though there is literature presenting methods to be used by municipalities in order to enhance stakeholder participation, there are critics who state that the methods are poor in providing practical advice on how to actually involve stakeholders (Jank, 2000;Ling et al, 2002;Khan, 2004;Ivner, 2009, Ivner et al, 2010. Besides, increased participation involving multiple stakeholders representing different areas of society tends to create challenges and increase complexity.…”

Section: Strategic Spatial Planningmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Addressing issues related to the utilisation of excess heat within the municipal spatial planning of new areas requires an understanding, among all participants, of the practical meaning of the goals and objectives (Ivner et al, 2010). These goals and objectives need to be accepted as legitimate by the involved actors.…”

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confidence: 99%

“…This knowledge can be gained through participation of different stakeholders with expertise in their specific fields (Ivner et al, 2010;Ziafati Bafarasat (2015). Strategic spatial planning processes rely heavily on a structure built on intensive interaction with a wide range of disciplines and stakeholders reflecting the diversity of the local society (Bryson et al, 2015;Salet, 2014;Innes and Booher, 2004).…”

Section: Strategic Spatial Planningmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Utilisation of Excess Heat Towards a Circular Economy: Implications of interorganisational collaborations and strategic planning

Päivärinne¹

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In order to significantly lower the environmental impact from human activities, numerous efforts and approaches related to the transformation of human activities have developed during the last decades. Examples of such efforts are policies and strategies at different levels, some with a top-down approach focusing on extensive institutional changes, and some with a bottom-up approach focusing on industrial actors and industry-led activities.One essential aspect of these efforts concerns the energy used producing the products and services provided within our society. This includes, for example, improved efficiency of processes in order to minimise the amount of energy used, or optimisation of efficiency by using energy with the lowest possible exergy value. It can also be about reuse of energy, which is the focus of this thesis. Heat, which is the main by-product of all energy systems, can be utilised for heating purposes to lower the primary energy demand for heating. Increased utilisation of excess heat, however, requires collaboration between normally unrelated actors, those with a supply of and those demanding excess heat.In Sweden, which is a Northern European country with high demand for heat, the tradition of large energy-intensive manufacturing industries generating large amounts of excess heat, in combination with well-established district heating distribution systems, constitute good conditions for excess heat utilisation. Despite the fact that Sweden is among the world leaders in utilising excess heat, there is however, still a large unutilised potential.From this background, the objective of this thesis is to identify challenges behind excess heat utilisation for heating purposes, and to propose practical suggestions to facilitate expanded excess heat utilisation. The overall objective is analysed with a focus on drivers and barriers behind interorganisational collaborations on excess heat utilisation, important components of interorganisational business models and how the technical conditions regarding supply and demand could be facilitated by strategic municipal spatial planning processes. The research is largely based on interviews conducted with societal actors with different perspectives on excess heat utilisation; energy companies, industries generating high-grade excess heat, facilities generating low-grade excess heat, facilities demanding low-grade excess heat, experts of utilisation of low-grade excess heat, branch organisations, municipal spatial planners, energy-and climate advisors, and developers. Document studies have been conducted in order to collect case specific knowledge. The research questions are explored based on literature studies on the principles of industrial symbiosis, business model perspective and strategic planning. Further, they are examined in a Swedish context. It is concluded that the three perspectives complement each other by providing a system perspective on increased utilisation of excess heat as they seek to contribute both environmental and financial ben...

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