Collaboration to address a wicked problem : the case of certified palm oil

Corporations meet complex challenges as they operate on a global market. Global multidimensional problems are referred to wicked problems and which cannot be solved only managed. In this case, of certified palm oil, palm oil production can be seen as a wicked problem due to deforestation of rainforest, land grabbing and social conflicts. There are also conflicts regarding the value and interest of palm oil. This thesis investigates the Swedish transformation for certified palm oil and how actors in the Swedish food market address this transformation to have certified palm oil in their production. The aim of this thesis is to explain enabling factors to address the governance gap of ethical sourcing in the food industry. A qualitative case study is conducted on important actors that are involved in this transformation. Interviews from each organization were analyzed in comparison with existing literature in the area of corporate social responsibility and collaboration theory. Corporations have great impact on the natural environment, a matter of responsibility has shed light on a gap in governance. Corporations have to regulate their own business but smaller national food producers and retailers are not capable to address ethical sourcing of palm oil by themselves. Collaborative initiatives within the industry and even outside the industry involving external stakeholders i.e. Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) has brought new hopes on resolutions for palm oil production. Findings in this thesis are that collaboration within the industry is of high importance to the transformation of the industry. However industrial collaboration is not a solution, only a part of a resolution. External influence and a from other stakeholders such as NGOs and trade associations are needed when trying to resolve wicked problems. These kinds of collaboration take place in multi-stakeholder networks or initiatives are to prefer to fully understand and be a part of a resolution to wicked problems. Contrary to existing literature it is found that collaborative forms occur in different settings, industrial collaboration or with external stakeholders such as multi-stakeholder collaboration. Often these settings take place in a dialogue between all actors. Finding in this thesis is that both industrial collaboration and multi-stakeholder collaboration if of high importance to address governance gap in ethical sourcing.Företag som verkar på en global marknad möter komplexa utmaningar och problem. Dessa komplexa flerdimensionella problem definieras som ‘wicked problems’. Fattigdom, terrorism och miljöförstöring är exempel på wicked problems. Denna uppsats undersöker ett speciellt wicked problem; palmoljeproduktionen, ett allvarligt problem på grund av regnskogsskövling, olaglig beslagtagning av mark och svåra sociala konflikter. Företag har en stor inverkan på miljön som de verkar i vilket medför en diskussion om vem som bär ansvar för företagens agerande. Här belyses ofta en lucka i lagstiftningen när det gäller företagens miljöpåverkan. Företag måste idag reglera sin egen verksamhet inom sociala och miljömässiga aspekter gällande palmolja. Dock har inte mindre livsmedelsproducenter och återförsäljare resurser nog att genomföra detta. Samarbetsinitiativ inom branschen och även utanför branschen som involverar externa intressenter, det vill säga icke vinstdrivande organisationer, har medfört nya förhoppningar om dellösningar för den komplexa produktionen av palmolja. Uppsatsen belyser en fallstudie om hur betydande aktörer på den svenska livsmedelsmarknaden arbetar för en omvandling till certifierad palmolja i sin produktion. Syftet med uppsatsen är att förklara möjliggörandefaktorer för arbete med ursprungskontroll gällande socialt ansvarstagande inom livsmedelsindustrin. En kvalitativ fallstudie med intervjuer är genomförd med aktörer på den svenska livsmedelsmarknaden. Intervjuerna analyserades i relation med befintlig litteratur kring socialt ansvarstagande och företagssamarbeten. Slutsatserna av denna uppsats är att samarbete mellan olika livsmedelsföretag är av stor vikt för att förändra marknaden. Dock är företagssamarbeten inte den enda lösningen. Samarbete med andra aktörer utanför livsmedelsbranschen är avgörande. Dessa aktörer kan vara icke vinstdrivande eller ideella organisationer. Samarbeten mellan dessa parter kan benämnas som ett flerpartssamarbete och viktiga för att slutligen kunna nå en lösning på komplexa problem. Befintlig litteratur inom samarbeten mellan företag och andra organisationer skiljer inte på dessa typer av samarbetsformer. Dock visar fallstudien om certifierad palmolja att samarbeten skiljer sig åt. Samarbeten kan ske inom branschen, men också med externa aktörer utanför branschen. Båda dessa typer av samarbeten är av betydelse när det gäller att arbeta med socialt ansvarstagande på en global marknad. Ofta är dessa samarbeten utformade som en dialog mellan inblandade aktörer. Företagssamarbeten och flerpartsamarbete är av stor vikt för den svenska marknaden gällande reglering och ursprungskontroll av produkter

Impacts of distributed photovoltaics on network voltages: Stochastic simulations of three Swedish low-voltage distribution grids

Abstract The continuously increasing application of distributed photovoltaics (PV-DG) in residential areas around the world calls for detailed assessment of distribution grid impacts. Both photovoltaic generation and domestic electricity demand exhibit characteristic variations on short and long time scales and are to a large extent negatively correlated, especially at high latitudes. This paper presents a stochastic methodology for simulation of PV-DG impacts on low-voltage (LV) distribution grids, using detailed generation and demand models. The methodology is applied to case studies of power ow in three existing Swedish LV grids to determine load matching, voltage levels and network losses at dierent PV-DG penetration levels. All studied LV grids can handle signicant amounts of PV-DG, up to the highest studied level of 5 kW p PV per household. However, the benets of PV-DG in terms of relative improvement of on-site reduction of demand, mitigated voltage drops and reduced losses were most signicant at a penetration level of 1 kW p PV per household

Factors that affect internal environmental communication

Miljöfrågan blir allt mer aktuell och krav på företaget kommer idag i allt högre grad från marknaden än från statliga regleringar. När organisationens intressenter prioriterar miljöprestanda ökar behovet av att kommunicera ut verksamhetens miljöarbete. Strategier för hur företaget vill förknippas med miljö ökar i betydelse och dokument som miljöpolicyer måste vara väl kommunicerade. I stora organisationer växer behovet av samordning, detta leder till att informationsförmedling blir mer komplex då den ska nå fler individer. Utan fungerande intern miljökommunikation blir det svårare att förmedla betydelsen av miljöfrågor såväl inom organisationen, som till externa intressenterna. Arbetet syftar till att identifiera faktorer som akademisk litteratur och industriellt yrkesverksamma tycker påverkar intern miljökommunikation. De yrkesverksamma i företaget trycker på liknande faktorer som teorin. Den interna miljökommunikationen blir speciellt viktig för fallföretaget Ragn-Sells som är ett av Sveriges ledande återvinningsföretag. De är starkt förknippade med miljöviktiga tjänster och förväntas därmed ha en stark miljöprofil. Den önskade miljöprofilen uppnås genom att strategidokument som miljöpolicyn är väl kommunicerade och är en del av kulturen. För att påverka kulturen måste individen ta till sig meddelandet på ett tillfredställande sätt. Meddelandet måste vara lättillgängligt och betraktas som relevant. Vad den anställde anser vara betydelsefull information influeras av kulturen. Information bör även spridas genom kommunikationskanaler som kan förmedla en rik informationsgrad så risken minskar för att meddelandets budskap misstolkas. Rik informationsgrad uppnås genom att anpassa meddelandet till läsaren. Klimatet bör även vara öppet och tryggt så att återkoppling uppmuntras. Verbala och icke-verbala signaler bör kunna skickas genom kommunikationskanalen som används för att sprida miljöinformation. Empirin påvisar att icke-verbal kommunikation är av stor betydelse. Ett företags riktlinjer behöver förstärkas med kommunicerade handlingar och meddelanden i samma riktning som dess verksamhetsmål.Environmental issues are becoming increasingly topical and requirements on the organization come more from the market than from governmental regulations. When the stakeholders prioritize environmental performance, the need for communicating the businesses environmental work becomes more relevant. Strategies for how the organization wants to be perceived with regards to environmental activities increase in importance and documents such as the environmental policy have to be well communicated. Communicational complexity is in part devided by factors such as number of employees, needs for cooridation, control and industry related risks. Without an effective internal environmental communication strategy, it becomes difficult to communicate the meaning of environmental issues inside the business, as well as to external stakeholders. This study aims to identify key factors that both academic literature and employees think affect internal environmental communication. Both groups identify similar factors. The internal environmental communication is especially important for the case company Ragn-Sells, which is one of Sweden’s leading recycling organizations. The company is strongly associated with environmentally critical services, and is therefore expected to have a carefully considered environmental profile. The optimum environmental profile is attained through well-communicated strategy documents such as the environmental policy, which in turn is ingrained into company culture. In order to understand the culture, the individual needs to embrace the message in the most satisfying way. The message has to be accessible and be considered relevant. What the employee considers valuable information is influenced by the culture. Information should also be spread through communication channels that can transmit a high level of information with clarity, thus reducing the risk of misinterpretation. By adapting the message to the reader, a high level of information can be transmitted and absorbed with minimal effort from both parties. The climate within the organization should be open and comfortable in order to encourage feedback. The channels of communication should also be able to deliver both verbal and non-verbal signals. The empirical study shows that non-verbal communication is of importance. The company’s guidelines need to be strengthened with communicated actions and messages in the direction of its target profile

Understanding net-zero energy buildings: evaluation of load matching and grid interaction indicators

ABSTRACT Although several alternative definitions exist, a NetZero Energy Building (Net ZEB) can be succinctly described as a grid-connected building that generates as much energy as it uses over a year. The "net-zero" balance is attained by applying energy conservation and efficiency measures and by incorporating renewable energy systems. While based on annual balances, a complete description of a Net ZEB requires examining the system at smaller time-scales. This assessment should address: (a) the relationship between power generation and building loads and (b) the resulting interaction with the power grid. This paper presents and categorizes quantitative indicators suitable to describe both aspects of the building's performance. These indicators, named LMGI -Load Matching and Grid Interaction indicators, are easily quantifiable and could complement the output variables of existing building simulation tools. The indicators and examples presented here deal only with electric generation and loads

Load Matching and Grid Interaction of Net Zero Energy Buildings

“Net Zero Energy Building” has become a prominent wording to describe the synergy of energy efficient building and renewable energy utilization to reach a balanced energy budget over a yearly cycle. Taking into account the energy exchange with a grid infrastructure overcomes the limitations of seasonal energy storage on-site. Even though the wording “Net Zero Energy Building” focuses on the annual energy balance, large differences may occur between solution sets in the amount of grid interaction needed to reach the goal. The paper reports on the analysis of example buildings concerning the load matching and grid interaction. Indices to describe both issues are proposed and foreseen as part of a harmonized definition framework. The work is part of subtask A of the IEA SHCP Task40/ECBCS Annex 52: “Towards Net Zero Energy Solar Buildings”

Solar Radiation Theory

One of the challenges in solar engineering is that the availability of the solar resource varies with time and location. An important engineering task is to design solar energy systems that are able to collect as much solar radiation as possible under these constraints. This book introduces the basic properties of solar radiation that are required to understand how the solar resource can be converted into useful heat and electricity, and what the limitations are. It also shows how solar radiation on planar surfaces can be modeled mathematically. This is useful when optimizing the orientation of collecting surfaces and predicting the performance of different system designs. The book builds upon lecture notes from solar engineering courses at Uppsala University, carefully edited to suit a wider scientific and engineering audience. The two authors have, together, more than two decades' experience of teaching, research and development in the field of solar irradiance modeling.https://doi.org/10.33063/diva-381852</p

System Studies and Simulations of Distributed Photovoltaics in Sweden

Grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) capacity is increasing worldwide, mainly due to extensive subsidy schemes for renewable electricity generation. A majority of newly installed systems are distributed small-scale systems located in distribution grids, often at residential customers. Recent developments suggest that such distributed PV generation (PV-DG) could gain more interest in Sweden in the near future. With prospects of decreasing system prices, an extensive integration does not seem impossible. In this PhD thesis the opportunities for utilisation of on-site PV generation and the consequences of a widespread introduction are studied. The specific aims are to improve modelling of residential electricity demand to provide a basis for simulations, to study load matching and grid interaction of on-site PV and to add to the understanding of power system impacts. Time-use data (TUD) provided a realistic basis for residential load modelling. Both a deterministic and a stochastic approach for generating different types of end-use profiles were developed. The models are capable of realistically reproducing important electric load properties such as diurnal and seasonal variations, short time-scale fluctuations and random load coincidence. The load matching capability of residential on-site PV was found to be low by default but possible to improve to some extent by different measures. Net metering reduces the economic effects of the mismatch and has a decisive impact on the production value and on the system sizes that are reasonable to install for a small-scale producer. Impacts of large-scale PV-DG on low-voltage (LV) grids and on the national power system were studied. Power flow studies showed that voltage rise in LV grids is not a limiting factor for integration of PV-DG. Variability and correlations with large-scale wind power were determined using a scenario for large-scale building-mounted PV. Profound impacts on the power system were found only for the most extreme scenarios.Felaktigt tryckt som Digital Comprehensive Summaries of Uppsala Dissertations from the Faculty of Science and Technology 71

Solar Radiation Theory

إن ارتباط موارد الطاقة الشمسية بالزمان والمكان يعد أحد التحديات في هندسة الطاقة الشمسية. كما تتمثل إحدى المهام الهندسية الكبرى في تصميم أنظمة طاقة شمسية قادرة على تجميع أكبر قدر ممكن من الإشعاع الشمسي في ظل هذه القيود. لذلك يقدم هذا الكتاب الخصائص الأساسية للإشعاع الشمسي المطلوبة لفهم كيفية تحويل الموارد الشمسية إلى حرارة مفيدة وطاقة كهربائية، وماهية تلك القيود. ويوضح الكتاب أيضًا كيفية نمذجة الإشعاع الشمسي على الأسطح المستوية رياضيًا. يفيد هذا عند ضبط اتجاه الأسطح المُجمِعة والتنبؤ بأداء تصميمات مختلفة للنظام. يعتمد الكتاب على ملاحظات المحاضرات من مقررات الهندسة الشمسية في جامعة أوبسالا، والتي تم تحريرها بعناية لتناسب جمهورًا أوسع من العلماء والمهندسين. يتمتع المؤلفان معًا بأكثر من عقدين من الخـبرة في التدريس والبحث والتطوير في مجال نمذجة الإشعاع الشمسي.This book is a translation of the book Solar Radiation Theory (2019). Translated by Dr. Khalafallah Omar Kassem.https://doi.org/10.33063/diva-440408</p