Nicolas Suter


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Suter

First Name

Nicolas

ORCID

0000-0003-2429-0009

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2022 - 20233
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Publications 1 - 3 of 3
  • Current approaches in energy systems modelling to support the just transition
    Item type: Other Conference Item
    Lonergan, Katherine; Suter, Nicolas; Sansavini, Giovanni (2023)
  • Equity, equality, and justice: Mapping concept to technical representations in energy system models
    Item type: Conference Poster
    Lonergan, Katherine; Chen, Meijun; Suter, Nicolas; et al. (2022)
    Energy system models are helpful tools for the planning and operation of future energy systems. Energy systems are large, expensive and interconnected; real-world experiments are therefore often impractical and the use of computational techniques is paramount for planning and design. The literature contains many examples of technical models that incorporate techno-economic factors but far fewer cases that model sociocultural aspects. Even when social factors are represented within technical models, they are often considered only to a limited extent. The dominant modelling practice is at odds with the fact that energy systems may deeply affect the communities in which they are embedded. To understand the state of the practice, we review current energy system modelling approaches that consider equity, equality, and energy justice (EEJ). Relevant, recent articles are identified using the Scopus search engine. We observe an increasing number of modelling studies that consider EEJ concepts with no clear evidence of location-based preference. The studies identified adopt a variety of approaches to quantify EEJ concepts; however, these approaches are largely inconsistent and are most often applied without a clear theoretical basis. Moreover, the methods largely fail to reflect the numerous dimensions of EEJ and tend to concentrate on select aspects of EEJ. Our findings indicate a gap between how modellers conceive EEJ and how EEJ is understood by social scientists and non-academic practitioners. To close this gap, technical modellers require further support in determining how they should consider EEJ. This support could include references to study motivation, contextually-appropriate definitions of EEJ, and alternative technical formulations. Providing such guidance would not only help bridge disciplinary gaps but also ensure that models that consider EEJ do so in a manner that is accepted by the broader community.
  • Energy systems modelling for just transitions
    Item type: Journal Article
    Lonergan, Katherine; Suter, Nicolas; Sansavini, Giovanni (2023)
    Energy Policy
    Policymaking increasingly targets an energy transition that is not only low cost and low carbon, but also just. While energy system models have been useful policymaking tools towards achieving the first two objectives, it is yet unclear to what extent they can also support a just transition. Here, we review 73 recent energy systems modelling studies using an analytical coding frame and observe a diversity of approaches to account for energy justice. While models do show promise in being able to support a just transition, especially in terms of assessing distributional outcomes, many of the approaches in the literature are poorly connected to current energy justice goals and discourses, decreasing the studies’ policy relevance and leaving policymakers with suboptimal planning support. Based on our results, we suggest eight actions for modellers to increase the policy relevance of their studies, which include more direct engagement with policy and research discourses, developing location-specific case studies, leveraging public participation in the modelling process, and considering asset decommissioning.
Publications 1 - 3 of 3