Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-27820
Publication type: Article in scientific journal
Type of review: Peer review (publication)
Title: Exploring possible futures or reinforcing the status-quo? : the use of model-based scenarios in the Swiss energy industry
Authors: Braunreiter, Lukas
Marchand, Christina
Blumer, Yann
et. al: No
DOI: 10.1016/j.rset.2023.100046
10.21256/zhaw-27820
Published in: Renewable and Sustainable Energy Transition
Volume(Issue): 2023
Issue: 3
Page(s): 100046
Issue Date: 2023
Publisher / Ed. Institution: Elsevier
ISSN: 2667-095X
Language: English
Subjects: Energiewirtschaft; Planung; Netznutzung
Subject (DDC): 333.79: Energy
Abstract: Energy scenarios are often claimed to support decision-makers involved in the energy transition. However, an empirical understanding of how decision makers select, interpret, and use energy scenarios is largely missing. This study examined how high-level public utility executives in the energy sector, a key target audience of energy scenarios, perceive and interact with energy scenarios. Based on interviews with representatives of 20 Swiss utilities, we show that the use of scenarios is rarely part of a formalized process aimed at assisting decision-making processes. Instead, the selection of scenarios is often contingent on users’ perceptions of their legitimacy, credibility, and salience. While utility executives could rely on a wide variety of scenarios published by academic, corporate, and non-governmental organizations, they often focus on a limited set. Given the complexity of contemporary energy scenarios, which are often based on sophisticated energy system models, familiarity with publishing organizations and reporting styles is an important selection heuristic for users. This stands in contrast to the purpose and of stated key motivation of considering a broad range of plausible futures and their associated trade-offs. Our results suggest that to evaluate the impact of energy scenarios, social-scientific research also needs to consider user groups that are neither involved in participative modeling activities, nor collaborating with scenario developers in any other form. The usefulness of energy scenarios in these contexts and particularly their capacity to contribute to integrative deliberations on plausible and desirable energy futures is highly relevant, yet largely unknown.
URI: https://digitalcollection.zhaw.ch/handle/11475/27820
Fulltext version: Published version
License (according to publishing contract): CC BY-NC-ND 4.0: Attribution - Non commercial - No derivatives 4.0 International
Departement: School of Management and Law
Organisational Unit: Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (IIE)
Appears in collections:Publikationen School of Management and Law

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Braunreiter, L., Marchand, C., & Blumer, Y. (2023). Exploring possible futures or reinforcing the status-quo? : the use of model-based scenarios in the Swiss energy industry. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Transition, 2023(3), 100046. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rset.2023.100046
Braunreiter, L., Marchand, C. and Blumer, Y. (2023) ‘Exploring possible futures or reinforcing the status-quo? : the use of model-based scenarios in the Swiss energy industry’, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Transition, 2023(3), p. 100046. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rset.2023.100046.
L. Braunreiter, C. Marchand, and Y. Blumer, “Exploring possible futures or reinforcing the status-quo? : the use of model-based scenarios in the Swiss energy industry,” Renewable and Sustainable Energy Transition, vol. 2023, no. 3, p. 100046, 2023, doi: 10.1016/j.rset.2023.100046.
BRAUNREITER, Lukas, Christina MARCHAND und Yann BLUMER, 2023. Exploring possible futures or reinforcing the status-quo? : the use of model-based scenarios in the Swiss energy industry. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Transition. 2023. Bd. 2023, Nr. 3, S. 100046. DOI 10.1016/j.rset.2023.100046
Braunreiter, Lukas, Christina Marchand, and Yann Blumer. 2023. “Exploring Possible Futures or Reinforcing the Status-Quo? : The Use of Model-Based Scenarios in the Swiss Energy Industry.” Renewable and Sustainable Energy Transition 2023 (3): 100046. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rset.2023.100046.
Braunreiter, Lukas, et al. “Exploring Possible Futures or Reinforcing the Status-Quo? : The Use of Model-Based Scenarios in the Swiss Energy Industry.” Renewable and Sustainable Energy Transition, vol. 2023, no. 3, 2023, p. 100046, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rset.2023.100046.


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