Human misuse of environmental assets especially energy is causing environmental degradation, which hampers social and economic welfare for present as well as for future generations. A worldwide shift to sustainable energy sources is one of the required actions to solve the problem. Electricity from sustainable energy sources is called green electricity and has arose as one of the most motivating tools for developing the sustainable energy market. This has resulted in the restructuring of Germany's energy industry with a dramatic change in energy use in electricity. The change has been aided by the German renewable energies act (EEG), which is been criticized for its resulting high green electricity prices which consumers have to pay. Green electricity prices seem to call for more consumers' attention than threats posed by conventional energy because only a small fraction of energy is sold as green electricity neccesitating the rethinking of the energy market. Due to the need for future research on more factors influencing consumers buying behavior in the green electricity market, this thesis seeks to investigate the following research questions: Is green electricity price the major influencing factor for its market unattractivess? Does the concern about price really calls for more attention than environmental concerns? It specifically aims to describe German consumers' perceptions of factors influencing their green electricity buying behavior. The research methodology involves the use of secondary and primary data. The secondary data gives a background knowledge of Germany and its energy historical development, Germany's sustainable energy strategies and strategies for market development (electricity feed-in-tariffs, the renewable energy act and problems), green electricity marketing, consumers' purchasing behavior and factors influencing this behavior. The primary data is gotten through a questionnare survey and analysed using both excel and the statistical package for social sciences. Evidence is taken from Germany because of its ambitious goals of 20-30% green electricity by 2020 and 80-100% by 2050. The result of the study shows that, although price is the most influencing factor in choosing an electricity supplier and also calls for more attention than environmental concerns, it's not the major hindering factor for the green electricity market unattractivess. Most German electricity consumers (42%) have no idea about green electricity prices. In comparison to competitors, 27% of them assume the prices are higher while 31% say the prices are thesame and even lower. All green electricity consumers confirm the prices are moderate and even cheaper. Even when prices are the same, most respondents gave other reasons like conviniences before environmental friendliness as the first motive for their electricity choice. Despite Germany's ambitous goals, consumers selfinterest and ignorance about green electricity prices remain a problem for the market.

Ongoing modification and change is core to how domestic and built environments function. Thus occupants domestication and development of home heating practices around low-carbon technologies is likely to exceed what building engineering sciences have the ability to plan ahead for. Yet, environmental policies and low -carbon industry approaches to sustainable energy consumption are characterised by a high degree of technological determinism. Disciplinary approaches to sustainable energy consumption tend to separate home heating into stable, routine interaction with control points, environmental factors and socio-demographic drivers. Framing low-carbon technical change in isolation from domestic environments often leads to a gap between intended and actual use of technologies. By focusing on TRVs (thermostatic radiators valve) and radiators, this thesis takes an interdisciplinary turn to jointly examine the social and environmental elements of households energy use. A turn to sensory ethnography and practice-place relationships offers a way to better understand how people use energy for space heating in relation to the buildings they live in and how improvisatory uses of technologies emerge from flows of material, domestic, sensory and physical contingencies of the home. Combining home video tours with building energy monitoring in eight homes, the thesis demonstrates that home heating is a place-event of the home because heating systems and energy consumption are woven into the fabric of everyday life. Environmental elements show that the social and technical are inseparable in energy used for space heating and individual elements imply that the domestication of technologies is highly unpredictable. The thesis synthesises findings into a taxonomy table of irregular radiator and TRV use. On the one hand, irregularities indicate that improvisatory uses of technologies are productive sources of sustainable change because they can be potential sites for co-design. On the other hand, the interwoven character of the social and technical in households energy use critically challenges how environmental policy, low-carbon industry and disciplinary approaches frame intervention into sustainable energy consumption. The thesis argues for the value of logic of intervention and sustainable change that is collaborative, system-focused and gradually uncovers interrelationships.

abstract: As the global community raises concerns regarding the ever-increasing urgency of climate change, efforts to explore innovative strategies in the fight against this anthropogenic threat is growing. Along with other greenhouse gas mitigation technologies, Direct Air Capture (DAC) or the technology of removing carbon dioxide directly from the air has received considerable attention. As an emerging technology, the cost of DAC has been the prime focus not only in scientific society but also between entrepreneurs and policymakers. While skeptics are concerned about the high cost and impact of DAC implementation at scales comparable to the magnitude of climate change, industrial practitioners have demonstrated a pragmatic path to cost reduction. Based on the latest advancements in the field, this dissertation investigates the economic feasibility of DAC and its role in future energy systems. With a focus on the economics of carbon capture, this work compares DAC with other carbon capture technologies from a systemic perspective. Moreover, DAC’s major expenses are investigated to highlight critical improvements necessary for commercialization. In this dissertation, DAC is treated as a backstop mitigation technology that can address carbon dioxide emissions regardless of the source of emission. DAC determines the price of carbon dioxide removal when other mitigation technologies fall short in meeting their goals. The results indicate that DAC, even at its current price, is a reliable backup and is competitive with more mature technologies such as post-combustion capture. To reduce the cost, the most crucial component of a DAC design, i.e., the sorbent material, must be the centerpiece of innovation. In conclusion, DAC demonstrates the potential for not only negative emissions (carbon dioxide removal with the purpose of addressing past emissions), but also for addressing today’s emissions. The results emphasize that by choosing an effective scale-up strategy, DAC can become sufficiently cheap to play a crucial role in decarbonizing the energy system in the near future. Compared to other large-scale decarbonization strategies, DAC can achieve this goal with the least impact on our existing energy infrastructure. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Sustainable Engineering 2020

The threat of global warming calls for a major transformation of the energy system in the coming century. A positive and effective outcome of the development and implementation of municipal energy concepts relies heavily on public participation. Based on user research through qualitative interviews and an online questionnaire in Germany, this paper presents design implications regarding digital participatory technology for municipal energy concepts. The findings include reduction of barriers to enable participation, encouragement of discussion and debate, monitoring the progress and providing feedback. The proposed implications aim to increase public participation for municipal energy concepts and motivate citizens towards a more sustainable lifestyle. Further work is needed to validate if the design implications entirely fulfill their purpose. / <p>Självständigt Examensarbete (Forskningsartikel)</p><p>Independent Master's Thesis (Research article)</p>

Solar energy is one type of the most commonly used renewable energy sources. It can produce electricity and heat without creating any Greenhouse Gases (GHG). Sweden has set up the goal of 100% electricity generated by the renewable energy source by 2040 and chosen Gotland as a pioneer project for self-electricity supply by renewable energy sources by 2030. Taking the year 2017 as an example, the total electricity production of Gotland in 2017 was about 1080 GWh, a share of 621GWh imported from mainland Sweden, 457GWh produced by Gotland's local wind energy, 1.6GWh produced by local photovoltaic energy and a very small fraction produced by local hydropower. Gotland has a high potential for photovoltaic power. This quantitative research case study used data to collect and a building model to measure the potential electricity production by photovoltaic power at three locations in Visby, Höken, Castor and Skalbaggen. Further, an analysis of the current value of installing photovoltaic panels for a public housing company to increase the capacity of renewable energy to stimulate the target towards 100% electricity from renewable energy sources by 2040. The result indicated that the ratio of production/Consumption at Höken, Castor and Skalbaggen were 73%, 52% and 1000%. According to the calculation, the LCOE of Höken is around about 0.74 to 1.17 SEK/kWh. For Castor, it is from 0.73 to 1.16 SEK/ kWh due to the range of interest rates. For Skalbaggen, it is around 0.70 to 1.11 SEK/ kWh. However, since the current limitation from both technical and legislative sectors were not allowed to transfer electricity between the adjacent building. Further research is required on how to facilitate tenants' use of renewable electricity produced by public housing itself, as well as how to maximize the penetration of smart grids.

Since the end of the 1990s, the number of forcibly displaced people has increased from 33 million to 80 million at the end of 2019. The living conditions within the refugee camps have progressed beyond emergency assistance, with the main objective being to provide short-term protection in refugee camps designed for short-term stays. However, the average time spent in a refugee camp is 20 years, and refugees often lack food security and power supply to meet basic needs such as cooking or lighting. Refugee settlements are stressful and unstable environments, especially for women and girls, who are vulnerable to various sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) forms. A systematic literature review of eight peer-reviewed articles and seven semi-structured interviews are used in this study to assess the effectiveness of humanitarian energy initiatives in reducing SGBV against women in refugee camps. In this thesis, a feminist lens is used to shed more light and unlock place-based challenges to sustainable energy solutions. Our study's findings indicate that establishing a link between sexual and gender-based violence and energy is difficult, and we cannot rule out the possibility of an existing link. We assert, however, that the most effective approach to reducing SGBV among refugee women is not through energy interventions but through a combination of mixed long-term solutions that address the root causes of violence.

This thesis is about the making of a power plant. It sheds light on how neoliberal ideas shape large public investments in sustainable energy infrastructure. It tells the story of how the City of Copenhagen decided to build what was claimed to be the greenest waste-fired power plant in the world: Copenhill. The plant was to have a ski slope at the rooftop and a chimney puffing smoke-rings. However, conflicting urban visions and rationalities led to a year-long crisis in the project’s planning phase. In the end, Copenhill was built over capacity, which today makes it difficult to match budget and costs. I combined information from internal municipal documents, interviews with decision makers and informal corridor talk to identify the driving forces behind the outcome of the crisis, and the contradictions and complexities of the case. I found that the crisis had roots in the way the public energy company ARC began to act like a private firm, with an entrepreneurial vision. ARC adopted an expansionist growth plan to build a large power plant with iconic architecture. The Copenhill project attracted local politicians wishing to brand Copenhagen as a green world city. However, the city’s Technical and Environmental Administration (TEA) was guided by a managerial vision with a strong sustainability focus. TEA’s analysis showed that there would not be enough garbage in the city to power the over-sized plant. Consequences for economy and environment were seen as potentially disastrous. Supported by city council and government, TEA tried to stop Copenhill. The clash between the two different urban visions led to the formation of two opposing coalitions with each their own rationality. The contradictions between growth rationality and green rationality caused the Copenhill Crisis. The direct intervention of the power élite in support of a growth solution short-circuited the norms of transparent public decision-making. Bowing to political pressure, TEA produced new documents saying that Copenhill would be great for economy and climate. Dark planning practices led to an outcome that was falsely presented as a compromise between green and growth strategies. It was in fact a growth solution, wrapped in green arguments that were not rational. The case study supports a key proposition in theory on the dark side of planning: that rationality is context-dependent and that the context of rationality is power. The case study adds insights to theory by showing the ways neoliberal thought merges with existing socio-economic conditions in space and time, specifically within a Nordic welfare-state context. It shows how public energy companies can face challenges, not only from neoliberal-driven privatization attempts, but also from ideas of iconicity and city marketing. The case study reaffirms the strength of a Flyvbjergian approach to understand the effects of hidden power mechanisms on planning of public energy infrastructure.

With a high reliance on fossil fuels, the need to transition the transportation sector to clean energy is great. Traditional public transportation has been used to reduce congestion and emissions in urban spaces but faces implementation challenges in rural areas from settlements being spread out with low density populations. This study used a survey to look at different groups living in one rural community on Gotland, Stenkyrka, to identify how their needs differ depending on belonging to these groups, to answer the research question: What are the public transportation needs of different groups within Stenkyrka?   The survey received 50 responses, enabling the respondents to be grouped into those who have children, those who do not have children, and by age group, 25-30, 21-40, 41-50, 51-65, and over 65. The results show that people aged 31-40 are most likely to have younger children and appear to need more flexibility and frequent trips in a public transportation system, while people aged 41-50 are more likely to have older children and seem to need shorter trips along with convenience and flexibility. People over 65 value travel time and need flexibility but, while they are more likely to use public transportation than other groups, are not very likely to be drawn to or use more flexible public transportation options such as taxis or dial-a-ride services. Based on these results, it can be said that different groups in Stenkyrka have different needs and look for different solutions in public transportation. Suggestions for how to create a successful public transportation system in Stenkyrka was discussed to provide examples for how resident needs can affect the design of a transit system. In this case, a demand responsive transportation system that uses a variety of transportation options and goes to the places most often used by residents in the community is important to help ensure that all resident’s needs are met.

Climate change represents a critical threat to electrical infrastructure. With reliance on electricity expected to increase in Sweden due to the transition from fossil fuel based energy to greener energy sources, it is important that the reliability of the electrical grid be upheld. This thesis studies the potential climate affected effects of extreme precipitation, annual average temperature change, water pooling after 100/500-year rains, and sea level rise. The RCP scenarios used for extreme precipitation and temperature change are RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5. These climate effects will be studied in this thesis to understand and determine the extent of the climate effects on the electrical grid of Gotland and Klintehamn. The possible issues on infrastructure that can be exacerbated by these climate effects will be presented. This thesis will use spatial analysis to find results using GIS as a tool. GIS will be used to compare the various climate effects over the electrical grid data. Data was received from various sources, extreme precipitation and temperature change were sourced from SMHI, water pooling, and sea level rise were sourced with permission from Region Gotland. The electrical grid data for both Gotland and Klintehamn was received from GEAB, this data is considered nationally sensitive information therefore the location of this data is not shown. The results generally show that climate change, no matter the scenario presents a threat to the infrastructure. Although it should be noted as well that the scenario will impact the severity of the effects. RCP 8.5 will likely have more of an effect for both extreme precipitation and temperature than RCP 4.5. Water pooling is expected to have a greater effect on the &lt;20kV lines than on the 70kV infrastructure. Finally, sea level rise is expected to have a much greater effect from 2-meter sea level rise over the 1-meter sea level rise. The overarching theme found is that climate change will have impacts over the electrical grid.

For least developing countries with large rural population living in severe poverty such as Ethiopia, access to modern and sustainable energy services is a real challenge. Dealing with the lack of modern energy services at local level and the needs for economic development at national level is a major challenge in the policy and decision making process. This particular study takes the case of Ethiopia to investigate the existing challenges and future prospects of mainstreaming sustainable energy access into the country’s development planning process, and the consequences for international development financiers, national policy makers, private actors and local energy planners and experts. The roles and approaches of various developmental agencies are reviewed based on the effectiveness and sustainability of cooperation models with governmental institutions. To this end, this study establishes an understanding of institutional, financial and policy elements related to both state and non-state actors. Accordingly, readiness of the rural energy sector to adopt sector–perspective and national development approaches to mainstream sustainable energy access is investigated. The thesis emphasizes the need for all stakeholders to cooperate and take advantage of local potentials and external opportunities in light of the new momentum for sustainable energy access in the global agenda.