Climate change Altering the Nordic Energy System

National energy systems in the Nordic countries are influenced by a complex of factors that makes foresight a difficult task. This project will focus on the effects of climate change but connect this policy field to two other profound developments: the in terconnection of the Nordic energy systems and the expansion of EU-policies. Climate change affects national energy systems in several ways: one is the actor expectation of meteorological effects and the precautions taken on this basis. But the system s o perational framework and conditions is also affected by climate policy decisions. The sum of these changes could substantially alter energy management and investment options for energy consumers, energy producers and national system operators. Academic outcomes will be a PhD dissertation in political science, 8 peer review articles and international conference presentations. The industrial/government relevance lies in the aims formulated to improve foresight capacity of energy system agents and their a bilities to choose optimal investment strategies in a carbon-constrained world. The project establishes a forum for discussing between major Nordic system agents and will make use of different channels to ensure dissemination and facilitate exploitation o f results, including the establisment of a project website, media appearances, set-up of seminars and a major conference at the end of the project period. Research will be organised as 4 work packages, focusing on: Policy processes at the EU level Dome stic policy processes, including linkages between EU and domestic systems Inter-Nordic linkages Assessment of energy production and infrastructure investment needs in the Nordic energy systems as well as discussion of system operator models (balancing str ategies) in a carbon-constrained world.