About the project
Energy system models are mathematical representations of energy systems, which based on input data present cost-optimal solutions to how the studied energy system may be designed. The models may cover the entire energy system or, as is our focus, the electricity system (power system models). The models produced are useful tools that generate techno-economic details and provides stakeholders with important insight for designing energy policies.
However, one of the current challenges of energy modelling lies in capturing social aspects of energy systems, such as political will, behavioral aspects and public acceptance. Critics have pointed out that the modelling results may be unreliable and inaccurate as e.g. behavioral and political drivers of energy demand and policy is underrepresented in comparison to the techno-economic detail of the models.
Improving these models to better account for social aspects present an opportunity to inform policy-makers on how long-term changes in energy systems may affect different groups of society and how to design socially just and inclusive energy systems.
We contribute to this new sub-field of energy modelling by focusing on justice implications of a Norwegian low-carbon power system in 2050 and the importance of socially accepted technologies and transition pathways.
In December 2022, we published the first article in the project: Can we optimize for justice? Reviewing the inclusion of energy justice in energy system optimization models. This was a review of how, and to what extent, aspects of social justice have been included in energy systems optimisation modelling as well as areas for future research.
One of our findings is that among the formalized definitions of justdistribution, most modeling studies use an equal distribution per capita or per energy consumption as the just scenario. At the same time, there is little reflection on the choice and effect of principles of justice, which can potentially contribute to an overly narrow understanding of justice.
Duration
2020-2024