Circular Economy Integration in Smart Grids: A Nexus for Sustainability

Abstract

AbstractThe increased electrification of society and the development of smart grids are often seen as central in the transition towards a more sustainable and secure energy system and necessary to address the challenges of increasing energy demand and limited resources. There are many visions and ideas on what a smart grid is or could be. While most research related to environmental impacts on the smart grid focuses on the energy and climate implications, there is a growing interest in looking into material aspects and resource use, i.e., the Circular Economy (CE) dimensions of the grid. It is increasingly understood that the various technologies in the grid, such as grid infrastructure and electric vehicles, will require massive amounts of natural resources. This research explores how smart grids can integrate CE considerations and the current state of knowledge related to CE issues in smart grid discussions in Sweden. The main methods employed were a literature review and semi-structured interviews with 19 stakeholders. The results show that limited literature deals directly with how CE issues can be integrated with smart grid development. The interviews show that various stakeholders have started to discuss these issues, but the discussion is still in its infancy for most of them. The interviewees also pointed to several barriers to developing a more “circular” grid, such as regulatory frameworks, network maintenance, financing, and cost considerations.