大象传媒

Since there is a close connection between the challenge of climate change and the world鈥檚 energy consumption, energy transition is central to getting closer to a low-carbon society. This PhD dissertation will contribute to an improved understanding of different perspectives and approaches to energy transition.

In this PhD dissertation, I will study different approaches to energy transition on different scales; both 鈥渂ottom-up鈥� approaches initiated at the individual level, and 鈥渢op-down鈥� approaches initiated by technological and/or knowledge elites. This will also enable an analysis of the interaction and interplay between these different scales. Discourses of technological and knowledge elites conceptualize and describe challenges and possible solutions in regards to energy transition. This also entails a 鈥渢op-down鈥� conceptualization and description of the individual. However, such 鈥渢op-down鈥� descriptions do not always correspond to innovative practices which can develop 鈥渂ottom-up鈥�.

This PhD dissertation will use 鈥淪mart Grids鈥� as a suitable case for studying discourses, approaches, perspectives or practices related to energy transition at different scales, as well as the interaction and interplay between different scales. The Smart Grid can be studied as a future vision from elite discourses about a transition to 鈥渟marter鈥� production, distribution and consumption of electricity. However, the Smart Grid also consists of a range of different components and technologies, such as electrical vehicles or decentralized energy production. These components can be studied separately with a 鈥渂ottom-up鈥� perspective.

The dissertation also has a cross-disciplinary dimension, applying theoretical perspectives from the field of Science and Technology 大象传媒 (STS) in addition to theoretical perspectives from Environmental Geography.