Print Email Facebook Twitter Scenario based learning regarding contested articulations of sustainability: The example of hydropower and Sweden's energy future Title Scenario based learning regarding contested articulations of sustainability: The example of hydropower and Sweden's energy future Author Mulder, K.F. Petrik, O. Parandian, A. Grondahl, F. Faculty Technology, Policy and Management Department Values and Technology Date 2012-12-31 Abstract Providing electricity from renewable sources is of key importance both to reduce depletion of fossil fuels and reduce emissions of greenhouse gasses. Many of the renewable energy technologies are not ideal for electricity networks. Reservoir hydropower is one of the most ideal renewable sources as it can store energy efficiently, and can be made quickly available in cases of peak loads. Reservoir hydropower generation has considerable impact on the landscape. Reservoirs and dams are perhaps the most visible elements, but the effects of a regulated flow of rivers on the river ecosystem, and the ecology of the river banks, is considerable. In Sweden, hydropower has a long tradition of being an arena for environmental controversy. Historically, various river related economic interests collided, but nowadays river basin ecology and sports fisheries are important issues too. [cf. 1]. Swedish Government has high ambitions regarding climate change: it aims at becoming the first fossil free country within 40 years. Unlike the traditional image of Swedish society, there is no consensus on the hydropower issue but a fortified dissensus. Communication between the contestants is limited to regular clashes (accusations) in the media rather than sensible interaction between different stakeholders on basis of substance of the issues at stake. This paper describes a specific approach which brings together different stakeholders in an orchestrated and supported setting so that interaction between different stakeholders can take place on basis of the content and substance of various issues that are faced. The main aim of the workshop was to facilitate interaction through which the participants could gain a more substantive insight in each other’s positions and background arguments regarding different issues at hand. The interaction was supported by specific tools: External scenarios and value based scenarios were developed for analyzing the future of (hydro-) electricity production in Sweden. We evaluate specific learning effect of the participants as a measure of productivity of our approach. The attendance of the workshop was very good. Our post workshop evaluations show very encouraging results in terms of new insights in each other’s positions. Subject learningscenario workshopshydropowerclimate changebiodiversity To reference this document use: http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:322af637-17d2-430b-bb1e-839031081bc0 DOI doi:10.5383/swes.04.01.001 Publisher IASKS ISSN 1923-7537 Source International Journal of Sustainable Water and Environmental Systems, 4 (1), 2012 Part of collection Institutional Repository Document type journal article Rights © 2012 International Association for Sharing Knowledge and Sustainability Files PDF 291341.pdf 532.29 KB Close viewer /islandora/object/uuid:322af637-17d2-430b-bb1e-839031081bc0/datastream/OBJ/view