The Adoption of Emerging Energy Storage Systems - A case study of the Nordic energy sector

Sammanfattning

The transition towards renewable energy systems has increased the need for flexible energystorage solutions, making emerging battery technologies increasingly relevant within theenergy sector. This study examines what affects the Nordic energy sector in adopting newenergy storage systems, with a particular focus on sodium-ion Battery Energy StorageSystems (BESS). The study applies a qualitative research approach based on semi-structuredinterviews with organizations operating within the Nordic energy sector across Sweden,Norway, Denmark, Finland and Iceland.The empirical material was analyzed through thematic analysis using theTechnology-Organization-Environment (TOE) framework as the main theoretical perspective,combined with the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) as a complement. The findings showthat adoption decisions are strongly affected by perceived risk, technological maturity,operational legitimacy and broader market-related conditions. While organizations generallyexpress openness towards innovation, investment decisions remain characterized by highrequirements regarding reliability, predictability and documented long-term performance. Thefindings further demonstrate that the Nordic energy market should not be consideredhomogeneous, as differences in energy systems, flexibility needs and ownership structurescreate varying conditions for the adoption of emerging energy storage technologies.The study contributes to the understanding of organizational investment decisions withincapital-intensive and institutionally complex industries by demonstrating how technological,organizational and environmental conditions interact with behavior-related factors in theadoption of emerging technologies.