Introduction 7
markets, which are strongly rooted in society and provide employment to large
numbers of people. They can prove difficult to touch for politicians. Apart from
the cases described here, this is, for example, the case with countries that invest
heavily in fossil fuels, such as Poland (coal), Australia (coal), and Brazil (oil).
Subjecting such industries to major changes with many associated uncertainties
is economically and politically difficult. However, many of these industries are
major contributors to climate change. They have also reached their limits with
respect to incremental emission reductions, such as increasing efficiency. If they
want to play a role in a low- carbon future, they face more fundamental changes,
such as replacing coal as the major source of energy in the steel- making process.
In this book, we describe three large- scale industrial pathways and their associated risks and uncertainties. For Austria, we focus on energy supply for the
iron and steel sector. For Canada, we discuss the Alberta oil sands, including
the Athabasca oil sands from the perspective of the Indigenous people affected.
For the UK, we examine the expansion of the nuclear power sector, which is a
realistic option, vis- à-vis a nuclear phase out in favour of renewables. Kenya and
Indonesia, featured in Part V, also illustrate regional and national technological
lock- ins, complementary to local- level transitions. Both countries currently rely
heavily on coal and oil for electricity production. In Indonesia one replacement
for fossil fuels is biogas- for-electricity production, whereas Kenya has large geothermal resources as an opportunity to replace fossil energy.
The second theme (Part III) includes pathways towards renewable
electricity systems in Chile (Chapter 6), the Netherlands (Chapter 7), Spain
(Chapter 8), and Switzerland (Chapter 9). Solar power technologies have
developed with incredible speed over the past two decades, with solar
photovoltaics (PV) in particular becoming a competitive alternative to fossil
fuels. As a standalone technology, or in combination with wind power, it has
become an integral part of most national energy strategies. However, a range of
barriers may still hinder successful implementation, and potential negative
consequences resulting from implementation at scale are still insufficiently
understood. In this book, we discuss the risks and uncertainties of transitioning
to a solar- based electricity system for Chile, considering particularly its potential
effect on energy poverty. The Netherlands’ narrative includes the development
of solar power and explores two alternative pathways, one centred on a largescale solar parks, the other on small- scale rooftop installations. The Spanish
case study offers lessons learned from the past: as a frontrunner in solar power
technology and other renewable energy, the country was also among the first to
experience unsuccessful strategies and their consequences. Finally, Switzerland
illustrates the challenges in actually implementing a high- level strategy in a
decentralised and multi- level democratic system, and potential to scale up
renewable energy technologies in light of a planned renewable- based nuclear
phase out.
In theme three (Part IV), we explore energy efficiency pathways for the
building sector, illustrated with cases in China (Chapter 10) and Greece
(Chapter 11). Improving energy efficiency can be most cost- effective and thus a
markets, which are strongly rooted in society and provide employment to large
numbers of people. They can prove difficult to touch for politicians. Apart from
the cases described here, this is, for example, the case with countries that invest
heavily in fossil fuels, such as Poland (coal), Australia (coal), and Brazil (oil).
Subjecting such industries to major changes with many associated uncertainties
is economically and politically difficult. However, many of these industries are
major contributors to climate change. They have also reached their limits with
respect to incremental emission reductions, such as increasing efficiency. If they
want to play a role in a low- carbon future, they face more fundamental changes,
such as replacing coal as the major source of energy in the steel- making process.
In this book, we describe three large- scale industrial pathways and their associated risks and uncertainties. For Austria, we focus on energy supply for the
iron and steel sector. For Canada, we discuss the Alberta oil sands, including
the Athabasca oil sands from the perspective of the Indigenous people affected.
For the UK, we examine the expansion of the nuclear power sector, which is a
realistic option, vis- à-vis a nuclear phase out in favour of renewables. Kenya and
Indonesia, featured in Part V, also illustrate regional and national technological
lock- ins, complementary to local- level transitions. Both countries currently rely
heavily on coal and oil for electricity production. In Indonesia one replacement
for fossil fuels is biogas- for-electricity production, whereas Kenya has large geothermal resources as an opportunity to replace fossil energy.
The second theme (Part III) includes pathways towards renewable
electricity systems in Chile (Chapter 6), the Netherlands (Chapter 7), Spain
(Chapter 8), and Switzerland (Chapter 9). Solar power technologies have
developed with incredible speed over the past two decades, with solar
photovoltaics (PV) in particular becoming a competitive alternative to fossil
fuels. As a standalone technology, or in combination with wind power, it has
become an integral part of most national energy strategies. However, a range of
barriers may still hinder successful implementation, and potential negative
consequences resulting from implementation at scale are still insufficiently
understood. In this book, we discuss the risks and uncertainties of transitioning
to a solar- based electricity system for Chile, considering particularly its potential
effect on energy poverty. The Netherlands’ narrative includes the development
of solar power and explores two alternative pathways, one centred on a largescale solar parks, the other on small- scale rooftop installations. The Spanish
case study offers lessons learned from the past: as a frontrunner in solar power
technology and other renewable energy, the country was also among the first to
experience unsuccessful strategies and their consequences. Finally, Switzerland
illustrates the challenges in actually implementing a high- level strategy in a
decentralised and multi- level democratic system, and potential to scale up
renewable energy technologies in light of a planned renewable- based nuclear
phase out.
In theme three (Part IV), we explore energy efficiency pathways for the
building sector, illustrated with cases in China (Chapter 10) and Greece
(Chapter 11). Improving energy efficiency can be most cost- effective and thus a