The sociotechnical transition to renewable energy:

Transcription

1 The sociotechnical transition to renewable energy: A case study of the Shetland Interconnector Fiona Munro, PhD Student, School of Interdisciplinary Studies, University of Glasgow Supervisors: Prof. Joseph Murphy and Prof. Paul Younger

2 Introduction This paper combines scholarship around sociotechnical transitions and resource peripheries. Presents empirical data from case study of the proposed Shetland Interconnector. This is the second case study of three for my thesis to examine the renewable energy transition in Scotland for the electricity sector: production transmission storage

3 Sociotechnical Transitions To understand societal shifts in the use of various technologies over time and the linked transformations in society such as in infrastructure, knowledge, and ways of life. Importance of geography has been neglected with a focus rather on the temporal aspects of transition. Multi-level perspective dynamics (Source: Geels 2002, p.1263)

4 Diagram of the Electricity Sociotechnical System (Source: Geels et al. 2015, p.7)

5 Resource Periphery Friedmann (1966) argued that core-peripheries develop following a fourstage growth model: (1) initial towns/regions develop fairly independently; (2) then a town/region begins to dominate, attracting disproportionally larger investment and migration; (3) semi-peripheries develop characterized by smaller cores that begin to develop; and lastly (4) all areas develop to be dependent on each other where capital and people flow between them. Periphery Semi-periphery Core

6 Resource Periphery Brown et al. (2000) s table of key differences between cores and peripheries (Source: Brown et al. 2000, p.9)

7 Combined Approach Importance of geography has been neglected with a focus rather on the temporal aspects of transition. Resource peripheries research illuminates power dynamics within geographical space with a focus on relations and dynamics between peripheries and cores. Murphy and Smith (2013) have started connecting these concepts and this research builds on this. The sociotechnical transition and resource-periphery perspectives (Source: Murphy & Smith 2013, p.696)

8 Source: Source: Methods Fieldwork Jan-Feb 2015 Semi-structured interviews Directly Additional around policy and industry

9 Context Scotland has a large amount of renewable energy largely located in rural and remote regions. Some has been developed and contributes to the increasing amount of energy from low carbon sources in the UK, aiding in the UK reaching its GHG targets. Both positive and negative impacts for communities as these areas are transformed by these developments. Creates complex relationships and interactions. Renewable energy generation trends by country (Source: DECC 2013, p.56)

10 Context Large amounts of infrastructure are required to transfer this energy from the rural areas (generation) to cores (consumption). Transmission line developments and upgrades currently planned. A re-wiring of Scotland is taking place. (Source: The Scottish Government 2013, p.89) (Source: The Scottish Government 2013b, p.89)

11 Proposed Shetland Interconnector Shetland Islands are located 209km (130 miles) north of the British mainland. Plans for a subsea high-voltage direct current (HVDC) cable interconnector between Shetland (from the Moray Coast) and the UK mainland (Caithness). Estimated to cost 600 million and be able to carry 600MW. Completion date scheduled for December Responsibility of the grid operator, Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission Ltd (SHET) which is part of Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE). SHET s purpose: to ensure there is sufficient network capacity for those within it seeking to generate electricity from renewable and other sources across a diverse, challenging and remote geographical region (Scottish and Southern Energy 2013, p.1) (Source: The Scottish Government 2013, p.89)

12 Shetland - Constrained Shetland s renewable energy development has been constrained because of the lack of ability to export its electricity. Shetland is a constraint by definition because it s on its own and until it s connected to the mainland then it is constrained in a sort of global sense in that it is constrained by its own boundaries. (08)

13 Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) For the whole of HIE it s [renewable energy development] one of the main priorities but for Shetland what we can actually do in this arena we are struggling at the moment other than supporting very small scale community renewable projects but even that is challenging because of the grid constraints. (06)

14 Balancing the Grid On the mainland where it is all sort of interconnected because the system can cope with those small generation changes across the whole of the UK s load. But then in Shetland it is quite unique because it is this whole balance between the load and the generation and the regulatory requirements to keep that stable for the customers so it has to be managed very tightly so it s almost like a microclimate or micro network. (08)

15 Shetland Islands Council Shetland Islands Council s Renewable Energy Development in Shetland: Strategy and Action Plan (2009); Preparatory work can be undertaken now to prepare Shetland for the opportunities that could be created by an interconnector. The interconnector proposed is being constructed to support one specific project. However, it is widely anticipated that there will be capacity for additional generation within Shetland. It is considered important that Shetland clearly states the nature of additional development that it may want to secure so that it can prioritise the different opportunities that could present themselves if the interconnector is constructed, and have the ability to sift out those that do not fit with long-term development plans. (p.9)

16 Viking Wind Farm Proposed 370MW (103 turbines) central mainland of Shetland. By utility company SSE (50% stake) and Shetland community through the Shetland Charitable Trust (45% stake). Viking Wind Farm Project is linked with the proposed Shetland-UK mainland grid interconnector project because the wind farm would produce more electricity than Shetland requires. Shetland electricity demand ranges from roughly 11MW up to 48MW. Map of the Viking Wind Farm proposed sites for wind turbines on the Central mainland of Shetland (Source: Viking Energy n.d.)

17 Viking Wind Farm The idea was, if this is going to be done to Shetland then let s try and get what we can out of it, let s try and do it ourselves. (05) That is one of its problems, is the scale, but the scale is required, you can t have the one [interconnector] without the other [Viking wind farm] unfortunately. (05) It [size] is to justify the interconnector cable, not necessarily because the landscape can accommodate that. This is the number of turbines they require to make the interconnector viable. (04)

18 Future Pathways- Uncertainty The government has not made a decision yet if they will help build the interconnector or not or where the money s going to come from. (06) There will be opportunities to develop renewable energy projects off-grid but the attractiveness of Shetland as a location for investment is diminished without a grid connection. (Shetland Islands Council 2009, p.6)

19 Conclusion The processes that take place in resource peripheries during sociotechnical transitions can be characterized by highly complex transition-periphery dynamics. Therefore, this combined approach of sociotechnical transitions and core-periphery dynamics is particularly useful for understanding new resource peripheries and associated sociotechnical transitions. By better understanding these dynamics and relationships during transitions the renewable energy transition can be better informed to deal with possible implications and ensure possible benefits are secured for a more sustainable future.

20 References Brown, F., Hall, D. D., & Hall, D. R. (2000). Tourism in Peripheral Areas: Case Studies. Channel View Publications. Copus, A. K. (2001). From core-periphery to polycentric development: Concepts of spatial and aspatial peripherality. European Planning Studies, 9(4), DECC. (2013). UK Renewable Energy Roadmap Update London. Friedmann, J. (1966). Regional Development Policy: A Case Study of Venezuela (Vol. 5). Cambridge: MIT press. Geels, F. W. (2002). Technological transitions as evolutionary reconfiguration processes: a multi-level perspective and a case-study. Research Policy, 31(8-9), Geels, F., Mcmeekin, A., & Hodson, M. (2015). PATHWAYS project. Exploring transition pathways to sustainable, low carbon societies. Murphy, J., & Smith, A. (2013). Understanding transition periphery dynamics: Renewable energy in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. Environment and Planning A, 45, Shetland Islands Council. (2009). Renewable Energy Development in Shetland: Strategy and Action Plan. The Scottish Government, Planning Scotland s Seas Sectoral Marine Plans for Offshore Wind, Wave and Tidal Energy in Scottish Waters Consultation Draft. Viking Energy, The Project. Available at: [Accessed March 10, 2015].

21 The sociotechnical transition to renewable energy: A case study of the Shetland Interconnector Supervisors: Prof. Joseph Murphy and Prof. Paul Younger Lord Kelvin & Adam Smith Funding, University of Glasgow Contact: f.munro.1@research.gla.ac.uk Thank You!