People have the power. Electricity production, renewable energy transition, and communities empowerment across 11 Nordic-Baltic countries

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2023 Dec;30(60):125464-125477. doi: 10.1007/s11356-023-29156-7. Epub 2023 Aug 28.

Abstract

Stakeholders and communities' involvement is vital for shaping novel intergenerational resource governance frameworks. This is crucial for modelling upcoming energy transitions towards cleaner and more sustainable production systems. New models envisage energy mixes in which renewable resources are prominent and offer sustainable development advantages. Examining electricity production figures is, hence, necessary to understand trends and formulate policies and actions. This paper aims at drafting the state-of-the-art of electricity production in the Nordic-Baltic Sea area, moving an exploratory regional appraisal. Aggregated and disaggregated data on electricity production sources are explored and compared for all the eleven selected countries-at domestic, sub-regional, and regional levels. The region shows great national diversity, which implies diversified energy policies. Thus, the role of local initiatives-such as power grid implementation-in local communities empowerment is revealed. From this outcome, possible strategies are prescribed locally to assist the regional sustainable energy appraisal and furnish indications for the European energy and ecological transition.

Keywords: Community engagement; Comparative analysis; Electricity production; Electricity sources; Nordic-Baltic region; People empowerment; Power grids; Renewable energy; Smart grids; Solar energy.

MeSH terms

  • Electricity*
  • Humans
  • Renewable Energy*