Simulating Dynamics of Institutions

In society, institutions are the foundation that governs human behaviour through rules, norms, and regulations. The actions and interactions of individuals are shaped by these institutions, forming a cyclic system with numerous parameters and factors. Altering any of these factors, triggers the entire system to transition into a new state that...

Exploring Value Change in Sustainable Energy Systems: An Agent-Based Exploratory Modelling Approach to Study the Change in Importance of Values

The climate change around the globe driven by Greenhouse Gas emissions (GHG) is fueling the growth of Sustainable Energy Systems (SES) at a faster pace. However, the lack of acceptance of these systems by society has stifled its successful deployment. Societal values play a key role in evaluating the social acceptance and the broader...

Anticipating social acceptance of heating alternatives in Amsterdam: Using value conflicts in an agent-based model

The municipality of Amsterdam is currently in the middle of a heat transition. The municipalit aims to cut down the use of natural gas for space heating in order to reduce its impact on the natural environment. For the Geerdinkhof neighborhood in Amsterdam South-East, the municipality is planning to implement a district heating system. These...

Value conflicts in energy systems

This thesis introduces an approach to support the long-term social acceptance of energy systems by addressing value conflicts embedded in regulatory and technical designs. When designing energy systems, the realisation of some values can conflict with the realisation of other values. The decision to deploy energy systems therefore inevitably...