Towards Carbon Neutrality - a Delphi Survey Report

Abstract

Energy transition is all around us, and it has already affected energy prices and the most cost-effective methods to produce electricity. This transition is driven by the need to achieve carbon neutrality in our society, which is crucial for keeping the global warming at a tolerable level.

This report reports results of a Delphi survey ‘Towards Carbon Neutrality’ carried out in 2019 within the framework of the Smart Energy Transition (SET) project that studies technical, economic, and social implications of the global energy transition. The purpose of this Delphi survey was to focus on carbon neutrality and how the energy system should be changed in order to reach these targets. In addition, the barriers that hinder achieving the targets were studied.

The survey consisted of two rounds. The first round dealt with the question of how to achieve carbon neutrality by 2035, possible barriers inhibiting the achievement, and the importance of certain technologies for achieving carbon neutrality and for the economy and the energy system in Finland. The second round focused on deepening the understanding of the data gathered in the first round.