This thesis (Energy Strategies towards Sustainability: a comparative analysis of community energy plans from Sweden and Canada) examines community energy planning in Sweden and Canada with the aim of revealing strategies that move communities towards energy sustainability. Unsustainable energy activities are identified as major threats on both local and global levels. The challenges for energy systems are discussed and a possible scenario of a future community with sustainable energy production and consumption is presented. The literature review examines community energy planning guidebooks and key theoretical and methodological concepts including ingenuity, soft energy paths and backcasting from socio-ecological principles of sustainability. Following an analysis of energy supply and demand in a broad systems context, and a review of policies and programs supporting or hindering community energy planning, energy plans from eleven Swedish and eleven Canadian communities are evaluated. Characteristics of progressive energy planning as uncovered in the literature review form a framework for evaluating the visions, strategies and actions described in the plans. Sweden is recognized as an early player in community energy planning. Although Swedish energy plans do not contain all of the identified progressive strategies, national leadership and funding have played a role in Sweden’s successes. More recent Canadian plans are found to be highly progressive, suggesting that Canadian communities who follow their plans can too be successful in transforming their energy systems towards sustainability.
Author: Kerly Acosta, Arash Sangari, Jessica Webster
Source: Blekinge Institute of Technology
Download Link: Download This Report
Reference URL: Visit Now
Contents
CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 THE CURRENT REALITY
Two Global Trends
Two Community Trends
1.2 THE VISION
1.3 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
Definition of Terms
CHAPTER 2 METHODS & LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 METHODS
Literature Review
Interviews
Analysis of Community Energy Plans
2.2 LITERATURE REVIEW
Scientific Publications
Guidebooks
Books
Synthesis of Literature Review Concepts
CHAPTER 3 RESULTS
3.1 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
3.2 THE SYSTEMS LEVEL: SWEDEN AND CANADA
3.3 NON-RENEWABLE SOURCES OF ENERGY PRESENTLY IN USE
Petroleum
Coal
Natural Gas
Nuclear
3.3 PRESENT AND POTENTIAL RENEWABLE SOURCES OF ENERGY
Hydro
Wind
Solar
Biomass
Biofuels
Geothermal
Waste Management
Swedish Community Energy Systems
Canadian Community Energy Systems
3.4 THE DEMAND SIDE
3.5 POLICIES AND PROGRAMS THAT HINDER AND SUPPORT THE CEP
Swedish National Energy Policy
Canadian Federal Programs and Strategies
3.5 THE SUCCESS LEVEL
Swedish visions for Community Energy Systems
Canadian visions for Community Energy Systems
3.6 THE STRATEGY LEVEL
Summaries of Results of Analysis of the Planning Process
Methodology and Stakeholders
Political Support for the Planning Process
A Common Understanding of Sustainability
Thinking Globally While Acting Locally
Long-term Strategic Planning of the Whole Energy System
Continuous Improvement of Community Energy Plans
Feedback Mechanisms in the Plans and to the Communities
Integration of the Energy Plan with Other Planning Documents
Summary of Analysis of Strategies for the Energy System
Supply Side Solutions
Demand Side Solutions
Matching Energy Quality to End Use
Matching Generation to End Use
Full Cost Accounting
3.7 ACTIONS
Differences in actions taken by Swedish and Canadian
communities
3.8 TOOLS
CONCLUSIONS
4.1 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE RESEARCH
4.2 EPILOGUE
APPENDIX
APPENDIX I: SWEDISH ENERGY ACTS AND LAWS
APPENDIX II: CANADIAN ENERGY ACTS AND LAWS
APPENDIX III: VISION STATEMENTS
APPENDIX IV: TOOLS
Appendix
Template for Sustainable Product Development for WFPs