LAPSE:2023.26584
Published Article
LAPSE:2023.26584
Integrating Methods and Empirical Findings from Social and Behavioural Sciences into Energy System Models—Motivation and Possible Approaches
April 3, 2023
Abstract
The transformation of the energy system is a highly complex process involving many dimensions. Energy system models help to understand the process and to define either target systems or policy measures. Insights derived from the social sciences are not sufficiently represented in energy system models, but address crucial aspects of the transformation process. It is, therefore, necessary to develop approaches to integrate results from social science studies into energy system models. Hence, as a result of an interdisciplinary discourse among energy system modellers, social scientists, psychologists, economists and political scientists, this article explains which aspects should be considered in the models, how the respective results can be collected and which aspects of integration into energy system models are conceivable to provide an overview for other modellers. As a result of the discourse, five facets are examined: Investment behaviour (market acceptance), user behaviour, local acceptance, technology innovation and socio-political acceptance. Finally, an approach is presented that introduces a compound of energy system models (with a focus on the macro and micro-perspective) as well as submodels on technology genesis and socio-political acceptance, which serves to gain a more fundamental knowledge of the transformation process.
The transformation of the energy system is a highly complex process involving many dimensions. Energy system models help to understand the process and to define either target systems or policy measures. Insights derived from the social sciences are not sufficiently represented in energy system models, but address crucial aspects of the transformation process. It is, therefore, necessary to develop approaches to integrate results from social science studies into energy system models. Hence, as a result of an interdisciplinary discourse among energy system modellers, social scientists, psychologists, economists and political scientists, this article explains which aspects should be considered in the models, how the respective results can be collected and which aspects of integration into energy system models are conceivable to provide an overview for other modellers. As a result of the discourse, five facets are examined: Investment behaviour (market acceptance), user behaviour, local acceptance, technology innovation and socio-political acceptance. Finally, an approach is presented that introduces a compound of energy system models (with a focus on the macro and micro-perspective) as well as submodels on technology genesis and socio-political acceptance, which serves to gain a more fundamental knowledge of the transformation process.
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Keywords
energy system modelling, energy transition, investment behaviour, local acceptance, social science, socio-political acceptance, system optimisation, technology genesis, user behaviour
Subject
Suggested Citation
Senkpiel C, Dobbins A, Kockel C, Steinbach J, Fahl U, Wille F, Globisch J, Wassermann S, Droste-Franke B, Hauser W, Hofer C, Nolting L, Bernath C. Integrating Methods and Empirical Findings from Social and Behavioural Sciences into Energy System Models—Motivation and Possible Approaches. (2023). LAPSE:2023.26584
Author Affiliations
Senkpiel C: Fraunhofer Institute of Solar Energy Systems, 79110 Freiburg, Germany
Dobbins A: Institute of Energy Economics and Rational Energy Use, University of Stuttgart, 70174 Stuttgart, Germany [ORCID]
Kockel C: Institute for Future Energy Consumer Needs and Behavior (FCN), RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany [ORCID]
Steinbach J: IREES—Institute for Resource Efficiency and Energy Strategies, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
Fahl U: Institute of Energy Economics and Rational Energy Use, University of Stuttgart, 70174 Stuttgart, Germany [ORCID]
Wille F: Institute of Psychology, Division of Research Methods and Biopsychology, Technical University Braunschweig, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany [ORCID]
Globisch J: Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research, 76139 Karlsruhe, Germany
Wassermann S: ZIRIUS—Center for Interdisciplinary Risk and Innovation Studies at the University of Stuttgart, 70174 Stuttgart, Germany
Droste-Franke B: IQIB—Institute for Qualifying Innovation Research and Consulting, 53474 Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler, Germany
Hauser W: ZIRIUS—Center for Interdisciplinary Risk and Innovation Studies at the University of Stuttgart, 70174 Stuttgart, Germany
Hofer C: Institute of Energy Economics and Rational Energy Use, University of Stuttgart, 70174 Stuttgart, Germany
Nolting L: Institute for Future Energy Consumer Needs and Behavior (FCN), RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany [ORCID]
Bernath C: Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research, 76139 Karlsruhe, Germany
Dobbins A: Institute of Energy Economics and Rational Energy Use, University of Stuttgart, 70174 Stuttgart, Germany [ORCID]
Kockel C: Institute for Future Energy Consumer Needs and Behavior (FCN), RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany [ORCID]
Steinbach J: IREES—Institute for Resource Efficiency and Energy Strategies, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
Fahl U: Institute of Energy Economics and Rational Energy Use, University of Stuttgart, 70174 Stuttgart, Germany [ORCID]
Wille F: Institute of Psychology, Division of Research Methods and Biopsychology, Technical University Braunschweig, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany [ORCID]
Globisch J: Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research, 76139 Karlsruhe, Germany
Wassermann S: ZIRIUS—Center for Interdisciplinary Risk and Innovation Studies at the University of Stuttgart, 70174 Stuttgart, Germany
Droste-Franke B: IQIB—Institute for Qualifying Innovation Research and Consulting, 53474 Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler, Germany
Hauser W: ZIRIUS—Center for Interdisciplinary Risk and Innovation Studies at the University of Stuttgart, 70174 Stuttgart, Germany
Hofer C: Institute of Energy Economics and Rational Energy Use, University of Stuttgart, 70174 Stuttgart, Germany
Nolting L: Institute for Future Energy Consumer Needs and Behavior (FCN), RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany [ORCID]
Bernath C: Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research, 76139 Karlsruhe, Germany
Journal Name
Energies
Volume
13
Issue
18
Article Number
E4951
Year
2020
Publication Date
2020-09-21
ISSN
1996-1073
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PII: en13184951, Publication Type: Journal Article
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LAPSE:2023.26584
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https://doi.org/10.3390/en13184951
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