The clean energy transition can be achieved by reducing inequalities, improving energy security and creating conditions for the acceptability of energy policy measures. However, the transition policy measures may also exacerbate welfare differences, increase confrontations and weaken societal trust. It is also important to examine the impact of the energy transition on global fairness and security.
As the energy transition progresses, choices will be made regarding both policy measures and technological paths. These include various security dimensions that can be assessed using ex-ante and ex-post methods. The aim is to obtain a sufficiently diverse and in-depth but concrete picture of the needs and solutions for promoting energy security and fairness.
Researched information on the fairness of technological paths, policy measures and processes, as well as on the conditions for energy security will help to identify how unjustified accumulation of harm can be prevented and minimised, and how to enable an energy-secure and just transition.
Information to support energy policy
The fifth Work Package of the RePower-CEST project produces information on the fairness and security impacts of the energy transition and the conditions for supporting decision-making. The Work Package
- drafts proposals for ways of examining just transition, energy security and security of supply,
- applies these to the assessment of current policies; and
- produces recommendations to improve fairness and energy security.
The results of the project can be utilised in the clean transition policy, which in 2024-2026 is defined in the Medium-term Climate Change Policy Plan, in the preparation of the Energy and Climate Strategy and in the Long-term Climate Policy Plan. Data generated in project activities regarding just transition will also be used for analysing the planned activities.
Energy transition will alter understanding of energy security
Energy security involves several dimensions, such as security of supply, affordability and the resistance of the energy system against technical and external disruptions. In the context of clean transition, energy security includes ensuring that energy systems respond to energy demand when demand fluctuates, as well as cope with disturbances and exceptional situations, while at the same time changing the basis of the systems from fossil to renewable energy sources. In addition, the energy system must cope with disruptions caused by climate change or external attacks.
The project provides information on what technological solutions, institutional changes, cooperation and business models are required for energy security and security of supply with the clean transition. In addition, it will be examined how energy security and security of supply can be addressed nationally and regionally, considering not only the technical perspective but also, for example, the perspective of citizens and communities. The analysis also focuses on the connections between fairness and energy security from the perspective of energy resilience.
The project provides a situational review of changes connected to the security and fairness of the EU's energy policy environment. The focus is also on the preparedness of the energy and defence sectors for the threats and risks posed by climate change, as part of the comprehensive security model.
The fairness section of the project produces information on what is known about the fairness of energy policy, through domestic and international research literature. Certain transition processes (preliminarily, the proliferation of small modular nuclear power and green hydrogen, electrification) are examined as cases, by studying their fairness and security impacts in more depth. In addition, the fairness impacts of national guidance on critical materials will be analysed.
The Finnish Environment Institute is responsible for the content of this page, as part of the REPower-CEST project.