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One of the emergent trends in the sustainable energy transition is the development of distributed power generation. In Europe, it is estimated that up half of citizens of the European Union (EU) could be energy self-sufficient, potentially supplying 45% of Europe’s final energy demand by 2050 (Kampman, et al., 2016). While there are many challenges with a move towards more distributed, citizen-led energy projects, they are nevertheless supported and promoted by the EU in the RED II (EU Renewable Energy Directive as part of the 2016 “Clean Energy of all Europeans” initiative, directive 2018/2001/EU), which secures the right for citizens and communities to produce, store, consume and sell renewable energy, and other rights such as consumer’s protection or access to all energy markets directly or through third parties. Socially, this often takes the form of community energy projects in the form of collective action initiatives (CAI). CAIs, which include energy cooperatives, prosumer networks, and other citizen-led energy projects, are examples of social innovation (Gregg, et al., 2020) in how they organize and gain power through a social movement mechanism. Social innovation is the development of activities and services to meet a social need, and social innovations are primarily social in both their ends and their means. Among other things, energy CAIs are typically characterized by a focus on the community, open and voluntary participation, democratic governance, and autonomy and independence (ICA, 2021). The social benefits of energy CAIs include: developing local economies, addressing energy poverty, raising awareness about sustainable energy, promoting energy justice, giving a voice to the community, developing local skills and promoting social cohesion. Current research on CAIs explores how they are defined and the different ownership structures (Gorroño-Albizu, 2019), and how they mobilize and attain power (Gregg et al., 2020). Other research traces the history of their development within specific contexts or geographical areas, and how they influence or are influenced by national energy policies (Wierling et al., 2018). Still other research uses the lens of organizational and institutional theory to understand the historical development of energy CAIs (Mey and Diesendorf, 2018).

Demand for farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) has been increasing dramatically. Simultaneously, the industry faces increasingly large ecological challenges with the grow-out phase at sea. As a result, and with the aid of Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS) technology, firms are moving more of the production processes onto land.Thus far, the industry has treated the waste (sludge from the land-based farms) as a low-value product, and valorisation has been a low priority. Handling of waste is primarily driven by the need to meet regulations, and applications for the waste have been slow to develop. However, as the scale of land-based aquaculture increases, the volumes of organic waste are expected to grow proportionally. This will require innovation to develop new pathways to handle this increased volume of waste for this industry in order to become more sustainable.In this chapter, we explore the possibilities for sustainable pathways for increased valorisation of organic waste from the aquaculture salmon industry in Norway and Denmark from a socio-technical transition perspective. Through interviews with fish producers and technology providers, we explore the barriers for development, key drivers for innovation and potential areas for new value chains and networks that may emerge within this industry.

Demand for farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) has been increasing dramatically. Simultaneously, the industry faces increasingly large ecological challenges with the grow-out phase at sea. As a result, and with the aid of Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS) technology, firms are moving more of the production processes onto land. Thus far, the industry has treated the waste (sludge from the land-based farms) as a low-value product, and valorisation has been a low priority. Handling of waste is primarily driven by the need to meet regulations, and applications for the waste have been slow to develop. However, as the scale of land-based aquaculture increases, the volumes of organic waste are expected to grow proportionally. This will require innovation to develop new pathways to handle this increased volume of waste for this industry in order to become more sustainable. In this chapter, we explore the possibilities for sustainable pathways for increased valorisation of organic waste from the aquaculture salmon industry in Norway and Denmark from a socio-technical transition perspective. Through interviews with fish producers and technology providers, we explore the barriers for development, key drivers for innovation and potential areas for new value chains and networks that may emerge within this industry.

This study examines the three objectives of the UN Sustainable Energy for All (SE4ALL) initiative:1. Ensure universal access to modern energy services by 2030.2. Double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency (from 1.3% to 2.6% annual reduction in energyintensity of GDP) by 2030.3. Double the share of renewable energy in global final energy from 18% to 36% by 2030.The integrated assessment model, ETSAP-TIAM, was used in this study to compare, from an economic optimization point of view, different scenarios for the development of the energy system between 2010 and 2030. This analysis is conducted on a global and regional scale. The scenarios were constructed to analyze the effect of achieving the SE4ALL energy efficiency objective, the SE4ALL renewable energy objective, both together, and all three SE4ALL objectives. Synergies exist between renewable energy and energy efficiency. When the SE4ALL renewable energy objective is achieved, the economically optimal solution produced by ETSAP-TIAM also includes a reduction in energy intensity: globally, the compound annual reduction in energy intensity of GDP is 1.8% when the renewable energy objective is achieved. Likewise, a scenario that achieves the SE4ALL energy efficiency objective results in a solution that is halfway to the SE4ALL renewable energy objective: the 2030 global renewable energy share of total final energy is 26%. On a global scale, the renewable shares in every sector increase when the SE4ALL energy efficiency objective is achieved. The results from ETSAP-TIAM suggest that the SE4ALL energy access objective is not as synergetic with the other two objectives. When traditional biomass is phased out, the results show that it is more cost-effective to replace it with non-renewable energy sources for residential heating, cooking, and hot water.

The Bioenergy Department in SENER have requested assistance with planning for the deployment of bioenergy (Biomass, biogas and waste incineration) in Mexico and information on Danish experiences with developing policy initiatives promoting bioenergy.This introduction to the Danish experiences with biomass use is compiled as preparation for SENER’s potential visit to Denmark in 2014.This report was prepared 19 June, 2014 by DTU System Analysis to Danish Energy Agency (DEA) as part of a frame contract agreement.

This report was prepared at the request of and funded by the Coordination Unit for Research in Climate Change Adaptation (KFT). The report is a milestone of the project titled “Udvikling af metodisk ramme for dansk analytisk værktøj og database over klimasårbarhed og klimatilpasning”, funded by KFT. The project is one of seven initiatives proposed by KFT for 2012. The methodology report includes definitions of major concepts, an outline of an analytical structure, a presentation of models and their applicability, and the results of case studies. The work presented in this report draws on intensive research collaboration with several Danish universities and Centres of Excellence, including DMI, GEUS, DHI, Aarhus University, Copenhagen University, and DTU. Work carried out by our research partners has been co-funded by a number of different sponsors, including KFT and the Danish Strategic Research Council. The flood hazard maps presented in this report constitute the first preliminary results of on-going methodological and analysis development in mapping potential impacts in relation to flooding from extreme precipitation in the city of Aarhus. For all purposes the Aarhus flood maps presented in this report should be considered work-in-progress. The analysis was conducted by DHI as part of the DSF project Centre for Regional Change of the Earth System (CRES).