TRANSFORMATIONAL ENERGY FUTURES : Neo-Carbon Energy Societal Scenarios

Abstract

This report presents a set of transformative Neo-Carbon Energy scenarios within a societal context. The scenarios describe how society – social relations, culture, values, economy etc. – may change in a renewable energy system. They depict four different avenues and vistas to the world in 2050 where the energy system is decentralised, based almost 100% on renewable energy and prosumeristic citizens play a central role in a peer-to-peer fashion. The scenarios have been constructed within a Tekes-funded research project Neo-Carbon Energy in co-operation with VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, Lappeenranta University of Technology (LUT), and Finland Futures Research Centre (FFRC) at University of Turku. The foresight part of the research project explores the futures of an economy based on a new energy system and peer-to-peer society in 2050. The project is one of the strategic research openings of Tekes – the Finnish Funding Agency for Innovation.

The report also provides a list of 10 key recommendations, as a reflection to the scenarios, for various stakeholders in order to prepare for the emerging renewable energy transformation – to proactively surf on the winning side in this futures turbulence. They can be used to support and test strategies and decision-making for the transition towards renewable energy world, as well as to identify game changers – transformative leadership and pioneering actors for making this transformation happen.

The Neo-Carbon Energy world is a radical transformation towards renewable energy and responsible lifestyles. It is a preferred future, empowered by foresight approach and proactive futures creation, resulting in robust futures resilience.