F O S S I L- F R E E F U T U R E
“Getting people on board is crucial” For a succe s s ful t r an si t ion t o a su s t ain ab le e ne rg y s ys t e m , t he re mu s t be com pre he n si ve re se arc h b ot h on t e c hnolog y and on t he be h av iour and circum s t a nce s of e le c t r ici t y u se r s . C ajs a B ar t u sc h a nd J ohn Ö s t h , re se arc he r s in ind u s t r i al t e c hn olog y a nd hum a n ge ogr a p hy at U p ps al a U ni ve r si t y, gi ve t he ir v iews on t he m at t e r. text C A RO L I N E H O L M B O M photo M I K A E L WA L L E R S T E DT
The transition to a fossil-free energy system and associated electrification has led to electrical capacity shortages in many local networks. This threatens community development in several major urban areas, including Uppsala, Cajsa Bartusch thinks. With her colleagues in the Uppsala Smart Energy Research (USER) group, she is investigating various user perspectives. “It’s not the amount of electricity we use that’s most problematic, but the peaks created when many people use lots of power simultaneously. One solution, ‘demand flexibility’, involves consumers reducing their usage during peak hours, when the power networks are congested, or storing selfgenerated electricity at times of high capacity for use later, when capacity is low,” Bartusch says. Numerous factors have to be taken into account to understand electricity users’ ways of relating to the electrical power system. Bartusch thinks an integrated approach – one including interaction among individuals, their social environment and the technical features of the smart electrical network – is necessary. ■
JOHN ÖSTH, PROFESSOR of Human Geo
graphy at Uppsala University, has an approach that includes the significance of geography and various mechanisms. He perceives an underlying dissatisfaction associated with where people live and whether they feel favoured or disadvantaged. In considering
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the energy transition, it is important not to create an ‘us and them’ relationship or get fixated on averages and statistics. Östh thinks getting people on board is crucial and the energy transition is not feasible otherwise. “What factors enable people to make environmentally better choices? How can consumers see the benefits of changing their energy-use behaviour? To answer these questions, we need to know how different groups in society view these matters. We can create an ultra-efficient energy transition system, but if people aren’t willing to join it we won’t have gained anything,” Östh continues. “The issue is only half about the actual transition. The rest, or perhaps most, of it is actually about the users and their attitudes.” BARTUSCH AGREES THAT the role
of users (here, electricity consumers) is decisive. Technology is developing fast but its implementation, she thinks, depends entirely on them. “The energy system has long been dominated by big, well-established companies and characterised by centralised, high-tech production. The transition to an energyefficient, low-fossil and climate-smart economy needs a more decentralised, open system involving the whole of society. In tomorrow’s energy system, users must be central,” she says. Thus, the potential for changing behavioural patterns lies not only with individuals. Unless their behavioural changes are followed
The transition to a fossil-free energy system and associated electrification has led to electrical capacity shortages in many local networks.
by modification of culturally shared norms and values, and supported by technology, instruments, regulations and infrastructures, individuals will soon revert to their ‘old’ behaviour. How can you benefit from other researchers’ knowledge of the energy transition issue? Östh: “By shaking hands, so to speak, with various groups with differing points of view. In our reasoning and discussions, there’s often a long series of lightbulb moments. Cajsa and I have done a lot of work on joint applications. I’d say she’s the bridge between engineering sciences and human behaviour, while I can bring to the table complex bits of knowledge about geography and human movement patterns. We’re also members of Uppsala University Sustainability Initiatives (UUSI) – a platform that, through boundarycrossing collaborations, aims to strengthen the University’s research on sustainability issues.”
