A new regime and then what? Cracks and tensions in the socio-technical regime of the Swedish heat energy system

Adis Dzebo; Björn Nykvist

doi:10.1016/j.erss.2017.05.018

A new regime and then what? Cracks and tensions in the socio-technical regime of the Swedish heat energy system

Adis Dzebo, Björn Nykvist

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

Abstract Since the 70s, Sweden has gradually replaced oil with renewables to provide energy for heating, and today the country uses the highest total amount of renewable energy for heating of all EU Member States. However, there are signs of new tensions in the heat-energy system, and of lock-in of less sustainable practices. Using the multi-level perspective (MLP), this paper assesses to what degree the sociotechnical regime in Sweden's heat-energy system is stable and locked-in, and whether there are emerging tensions. We identify three key characteristics of the regime – interconnectedness, complementarity and saturation – that together risk creating tensions and lock-in of less sustainable practices. We conclude that the heat regime is facing an unstable future, with several challenges of growing importance.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	113-122
Number of pages	10
Journal	Energy Research and Social Science
Volume	29
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2017.05.018
Publication status	Published - Jul 2017

Keywords

MLP
Socio-technical transitions
Socio-technical regime
Swedish heat energy
Institutional change

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1016/j.erss.2017.05.018

1-s2.0-S2214629617301263-mainFinal published version, 764 KBLicence: Taverne

Cite this

@article{00d82d74c65b4773bfa18a028f37672d,

title = "A new regime and then what? Cracks and tensions in the socio-technical regime of the Swedish heat energy system",

abstract = "Abstract Since the 70s, Sweden has gradually replaced oil with renewables to provide energy for heating, and today the country uses the highest total amount of renewable energy for heating of all EU Member States. However, there are signs of new tensions in the heat-energy system, and of lock-in of less sustainable practices. Using the multi-level perspective (MLP), this paper assesses to what degree the sociotechnical regime in Sweden's heat-energy system is stable and locked-in, and whether there are emerging tensions. We identify three key characteristics of the regime – interconnectedness, complementarity and saturation – that together risk creating tensions and lock-in of less sustainable practices. We conclude that the heat regime is facing an unstable future, with several challenges of growing importance.",

keywords = "MLP, Socio-technical transitions, Socio-technical regime, Swedish heat energy, Institutional change",

author = "Adis Dzebo and Bj{\"o}rn Nykvist",

year = "2017",

month = jul,

doi = "10.1016/j.erss.2017.05.018",

language = "English",

volume = "29",

pages = "113--122",

journal = "Energy Research and Social Science",

issn = "2214-6296",

publisher = "Elsevier Ltd",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - A new regime and then what? Cracks and tensions in the socio-technical regime of the Swedish heat energy system

AU - Dzebo, Adis

AU - Nykvist, Björn

PY - 2017/7

Y1 - 2017/7

N2 - Abstract Since the 70s, Sweden has gradually replaced oil with renewables to provide energy for heating, and today the country uses the highest total amount of renewable energy for heating of all EU Member States. However, there are signs of new tensions in the heat-energy system, and of lock-in of less sustainable practices. Using the multi-level perspective (MLP), this paper assesses to what degree the sociotechnical regime in Sweden's heat-energy system is stable and locked-in, and whether there are emerging tensions. We identify three key characteristics of the regime – interconnectedness, complementarity and saturation – that together risk creating tensions and lock-in of less sustainable practices. We conclude that the heat regime is facing an unstable future, with several challenges of growing importance.

AB - Abstract Since the 70s, Sweden has gradually replaced oil with renewables to provide energy for heating, and today the country uses the highest total amount of renewable energy for heating of all EU Member States. However, there are signs of new tensions in the heat-energy system, and of lock-in of less sustainable practices. Using the multi-level perspective (MLP), this paper assesses to what degree the sociotechnical regime in Sweden's heat-energy system is stable and locked-in, and whether there are emerging tensions. We identify three key characteristics of the regime – interconnectedness, complementarity and saturation – that together risk creating tensions and lock-in of less sustainable practices. We conclude that the heat regime is facing an unstable future, with several challenges of growing importance.

KW - MLP

KW - Socio-technical transitions

KW - Socio-technical regime

KW - Swedish heat energy

KW - Institutional change

UR - http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214629617301263

U2 - 10.1016/j.erss.2017.05.018

DO - 10.1016/j.erss.2017.05.018

M3 - Article

SN - 2214-6296

VL - 29

SP - 113

EP - 122

JO - Energy Research and Social Science

JF - Energy Research and Social Science

ER -

A new regime and then what? Cracks and tensions in the socio-technical regime of the Swedish heat energy system

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this