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Scientific publications

2026/04/08

For, against, or on the fence? Developing a critical-spatial approach to social acceptance to examine conflict over a power line in Sweden

This study used the Munga-Hamra power line proposal in Sweden as a case study. Thematic analysis revealed how the powerline was legitimated by an ‘elite’ coalition of private and public sector stakeholders. The power line was contested by a coalition of rural stakeholders including affected landowners, residents and tourism businesses. Both coalitions legitimated their positions by ‘othering’ imaginaries held by the adversary coalition (e.g., urban vs. rural). A third set of ‘neutral’ actors strategically avoided adversarial positions.
2026/04/02

Policy-driven growth of technologies to accelerate climate action

More than 70% of climate policies target low-carbon technologies, with hopes that policy support will trigger tipping points and self-reinforcing growth. In practice, however, trajectories of policy-driven technologies remain difficult to explain and anticipate because their growth is nonlinear and often constrained by backlash, policy reversals and systemic barriers. In this Perspective, we develop a framework to explain, diagnose, and anticipate the growth of policy-driven technologies through four phases.
2026/01/21

Mind the gap: Mixed-methods approach to investigate transition bottlenecks to low-carbon energy futures

Three techno-economic cases are investigated; one in which the demand for electricity is met to the lowest cost to society resulting in a high share of onshore wind power, one with economic support for nuclear power and one with economic support for offshore wind power. A transition to the three different future electricity systems is...
2026/01/21

Do Energy Security Crises Accelerate Decarbonisation? The Case of REPowerEU

This paper examines the effects of the 2022 energy crisis on the European Union (EU)’s energy transition, using policy analysis combined with a quantitative assessment of renewable energy trends, forecasts, and targets. We analyse the ambition, implementation, and outcomes of the REPowerEU plan, the main response to the crisis. In an unprecedented move, REPowerEU securitised...
2025/11/26

Turbine siting in relation to wind speed: Insights from historical deployment patterns for energy system modeling

Most turbines are deployed at sites with wind speeds higher than the regional mean. Wind turbines are sited at similar average wind speeds over time. Heuristics based on historical data site wind capacity in the 70–90 % windiest areas. Cost-optimal siting of turbines in ESOMs deviates from historical deployment.
2025/10/27

Spatial heterogeneity in deployment and upscaling of wind power in Swedish municipalities

Wind power allocation in Sweden is not primarily determined by techno-economic factors like wind speed. Deployment mechanisms evolve over time possibly due to technological upscaling. Older small-scale wind power leveraged agricultural land and local experience. Modern large-scale wind power is deployed in municipalities with supportive siting policy and high voter turnout.
2025/10/09

Electrifying tensions: Stakeholder narratives to electrification of industry and transport in Sweden

Large-scale electrification of industry and transport is central to the decarbonization of the energy sector. Rapid transformation of the existing electricity system, however, presents significant challenges. Using the Q-methodology, this study examines challenges to the electrification of industry and transport in Sweden from the viewpoints of key stakeholders.

2025/02/11

How stakeholders legitimate ‘acceptable’ national energy transitions through spatial imaginaries and imagined publics: A Swedish case study

Thematic analysis revealed consensus between government and industry stakeholders in ‘othering’ two established, relational place imaginaries – ‘Northern Sweden’ and ‘Southern Sweden’. Socio-spatial resources were invoked to legitimate where future hydrogen deployment and offshore wind should be placed.
2025/01/02

Impact of Energy-Related Properties of Cities on Optimal Urban Energy System Design

Electricity could account for 70-85 percent of heat production in district heating networks, primarily from large-scale heat pumps.
2024/10/02

Feasible deployment of carbon capture and storage and the requirements of climate targets

Climate change mitigation requires the large-scale deployment of carbon capture and storage (CCS). Recent plans indicate an eight-fold increase in CCS capacity by 2030, yet the feasibility of CCS expansion is debated.

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