Exploring Wind Power Conflicts and Energy Justice in Sweden: An Analysis of Stakeholder’s Perspectives

Abstract

In tackling climate change, it is important to speed up the green energy transition towards low-carbon energy systems to meet future demands. In Sweden, onshore wind power is the primary option available, but it has become a source of conflict and controversy. This thesis employs the theory of energy justice to analyse two cases of wind power development that are in dispute in different regions of Sweden. The theory of energy justice has gained prominence in the last decade, and this thesis contributes to it by offering a localized context of the framework using two distinct case studies. The aim was to understand how the theory could be used to understand conflicts, beyond the distinct conflicts of interests. Energy justice was subsequently used to identify divergent perspectives and highlight potential drivers for conflict. The research design applied qualitative methods, and data was collected through semi-structured interviews, which were later analysed using a thematic approach.

The analysis showed how differences in stakeholders' perspectives could be explained based on varying understandings and departure points regarding temporal and spatial scales. Further it was understood that the scale mismatches could be a driver of conflict. For instance, stakeholders may have different perspectives on justice based on their outset and focus on scale, as residents tended to focus on locally grounded justice, contrasted by developers that tended to view justice on a larger scale.

The findings highlighted how the energy justice theory is a comprehensive framework that interconnects issues of distribution, recognition, and process, and that it both could highlight important empirical findings, and how these findings could help understand energy justice holistically. It concluded that energy justice and wind power conflicts are complex, and the discussion brought forward central aspects around these complexities as they related to the green transition and value conflicts. It also raised the question on responsibility for justice and who should take it. Conclusively, the thesis has found that utilising the theory of energy justice was helpful in understanding wind power conflicts, but that there is much ground to cover with future studies.