When comes the sun? A study of stakeholders, driving forces and future scenarios of solar power in Sweden.
(2018) MIOM05Production Management
- Abstract
- Background: In order to decouple from carbon dioxide, alternative, renewable energy
sources need to replace traditional fossil fuels. The fastest growing renewable
technology has for the past years been solar, more specifically in the form of
photovoltaics (PV). With the support of policy schemes, solar systems are
being installed on rooftops of private houses and corporations - and are
increasingly being connected to the grid. The decentralized nature of solar, as
well as the intermittency of it, are characteristics that place new demands on
the distribution network. This entails changes for the electricity market and
its actors, whose future roles and activities are yet to be determined. What
influencing factors are key... (More) - Background: In order to decouple from carbon dioxide, alternative, renewable energy
sources need to replace traditional fossil fuels. The fastest growing renewable
technology has for the past years been solar, more specifically in the form of
photovoltaics (PV). With the support of policy schemes, solar systems are
being installed on rooftops of private houses and corporations - and are
increasingly being connected to the grid. The decentralized nature of solar, as
well as the intermittency of it, are characteristics that place new demands on
the distribution network. This entails changes for the electricity market and
its actors, whose future roles and activities are yet to be determined. What
influencing factors are key in the development and what pathways are
plausible can help the different stakeholders adapt to the conditions of the
future.
Purpose: The purpose of this project was to examine driving forces for different
stakeholders on the current Swedish market for solar power. It also aimed to
study if and why the roles of different stakeholders will change over the years
ahead. The research project further intended to explore driving forces and
potential scenarios on the future market.
Research question: The main research question in this thesis paper was the following:
RQ What driving forces and distribution of roles could characterize the
future market for solar power in Sweden?
This was divided into three sub-questions:
RQ1 What stakeholders can be identified that are connected to increased
levels of solar power in the Swedish distribution network?
RQ2 What drives the different stakeholders on the electricity market, today
and in the future?
RQ3 What potential scenarios could depict the future market for solar power?
Method: The project had an abductive, qualitative approach but also included
quantitative elements. The method design used was a combination of a case
study and a survey. The case study was of a Swedish distribution system
operator (DSO) and provided a basis for the building of a survey. For the
survey, a two-round Delphi study was used. The Delphi technique gather the
opinions of a panel of experts within a field, such as the one of solar power,
through an iterative process. The thesis project as a whole was of an
exploratory-descriptive nature.
Delimitations: This thesis project was limited to the Swedish market of on-grid solar power.
Conclusions: The project identified a range of seven key stakeholder segments on the
current market, along with both intrinsic and external driving forces that
influence the development towards more solar power in the grid. Intrinsic
driving forces were financial benefits, environmental concerns, sustainable
profile and self-sufficiency, that influence the different stakeholders in
varying ways. External driving forces were captured in a set of mega trends
influencing the market development. These included among others increased
environmental awareness, flexibility in usage and supply as well as more
decentralized production and more fluctuating electricity prices.
The thesis project also produced four distinct scenarios that could depict
possible pathways into the future. These were constructed using the two axes
relative financial benefits of solar power and prioritization of environmental
concerns. Different stakeholders were identified as enablers of, and obstacles
for, the different pathways for development, along with other elements of
vitality for more solar in the grid. The results implied that the rise of solar as
a prominent energy source in Sweden is closely connected to changes in roles
of the current stakeholders. In general, the study revealed a bright perception
of the future of solar power in Sweden, but changes and adaptations are
needed if the market is to disrupt and solar is to contribute a significant part
of the Swedish energy mix. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/8953532
- author
- Marklund, Rebecka and Ramberg, Carolina
- supervisor
- organization
- course
- MIOM05
- year
- 2018
- type
- M1 - University Diploma
- subject
- keywords
- Combined methods research, Delphi study, Distribution system operator, Foresight, Photovoltaics, Scenario building, Solar power, Stakeholder analysis
- other publication id
- 18/5601
- language
- English
- id
- 8953532
- date added to LUP
- 2018-06-28 11:01:29
- date last changed
- 2018-06-28 11:01:29
@misc{8953532,
abstract = {{Background: In order to decouple from carbon dioxide, alternative, renewable energy
sources need to replace traditional fossil fuels. The fastest growing renewable
technology has for the past years been solar, more specifically in the form of
photovoltaics (PV). With the support of policy schemes, solar systems are
being installed on rooftops of private houses and corporations - and are
increasingly being connected to the grid. The decentralized nature of solar, as
well as the intermittency of it, are characteristics that place new demands on
the distribution network. This entails changes for the electricity market and
its actors, whose future roles and activities are yet to be determined. What
influencing factors are key in the development and what pathways are
plausible can help the different stakeholders adapt to the conditions of the
future.
Purpose: The purpose of this project was to examine driving forces for different
stakeholders on the current Swedish market for solar power. It also aimed to
study if and why the roles of different stakeholders will change over the years
ahead. The research project further intended to explore driving forces and
potential scenarios on the future market.
Research question: The main research question in this thesis paper was the following:
RQ What driving forces and distribution of roles could characterize the
future market for solar power in Sweden?
This was divided into three sub-questions:
RQ1 What stakeholders can be identified that are connected to increased
levels of solar power in the Swedish distribution network?
RQ2 What drives the different stakeholders on the electricity market, today
and in the future?
RQ3 What potential scenarios could depict the future market for solar power?
Method: The project had an abductive, qualitative approach but also included
quantitative elements. The method design used was a combination of a case
study and a survey. The case study was of a Swedish distribution system
operator (DSO) and provided a basis for the building of a survey. For the
survey, a two-round Delphi study was used. The Delphi technique gather the
opinions of a panel of experts within a field, such as the one of solar power,
through an iterative process. The thesis project as a whole was of an
exploratory-descriptive nature.
Delimitations: This thesis project was limited to the Swedish market of on-grid solar power.
Conclusions: The project identified a range of seven key stakeholder segments on the
current market, along with both intrinsic and external driving forces that
influence the development towards more solar power in the grid. Intrinsic
driving forces were financial benefits, environmental concerns, sustainable
profile and self-sufficiency, that influence the different stakeholders in
varying ways. External driving forces were captured in a set of mega trends
influencing the market development. These included among others increased
environmental awareness, flexibility in usage and supply as well as more
decentralized production and more fluctuating electricity prices.
The thesis project also produced four distinct scenarios that could depict
possible pathways into the future. These were constructed using the two axes
relative financial benefits of solar power and prioritization of environmental
concerns. Different stakeholders were identified as enablers of, and obstacles
for, the different pathways for development, along with other elements of
vitality for more solar in the grid. The results implied that the rise of solar as
a prominent energy source in Sweden is closely connected to changes in roles
of the current stakeholders. In general, the study revealed a bright perception
of the future of solar power in Sweden, but changes and adaptations are
needed if the market is to disrupt and solar is to contribute a significant part
of the Swedish energy mix.}},
author = {{Marklund, Rebecka and Ramberg, Carolina}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{When comes the sun? A study of stakeholders, driving forces and future scenarios of solar power in Sweden.}},
year = {{2018}},
}