Energy supply transitions in Swedish municipalities. Transferability of the lessons learnt to Tandil, Argentina

Sammanfattning: The author of this thesis wishes to contribute to transitions towards more sustainable energy systems in Argentina. In order to do so, two objectives are established. The first one refers to increasing the understanding of the transitions taken place at the local level within energy supply systems in Sweden. The second objective is to increase the understanding of the conditions that need to be in place in Tandil, Argentina, for technology transfer purposes within this area. This work utilizes a case study approach. The cases are focused on energy transitions at the municipal level. Three cases studied in Sweden and one in Argentina, constitute the basis for the analysis. Cross case analysis based upon the advanced Swedish cases is used to provide guidance for advancement in Argentina. In each of the studied municipalities, the focus is on the institutional, technological and economic perspectives of energy supply streams. Analysis is underpinned by a framework built with theoretical context from technological innovation, institutional and contextualization fields. The audience of this thesis includes national, regional and local promoters of renewable energy supply systems. Actors such as national and local governments, politicians, educational institutions, public service companies, actors working in the private sector, non-governmental organizations, engaged individuals aiming to make a change in their energy system, and related networks, are all potential readers of this thesis. This study found that local actors initiating processes of transformation within energy supply systems in Sweden generally followed similar pathways of actions and behavior. Moreover, it was found that the similar manner in which these processes developed, and many of the drivers behind the change, could be rationalized using the analytical framework. Thus, although temporal and spatial contexts influencing local transitions provided the processes with unique features, generalization of key areas of actions to promote advancement in the Argentinean context could be made. Furthermore, pursuant to this generalization, this study concludes that it is possible to transfer many of the lessons learnt from Swedish municipalities to the city of Tandil.