Mapping Lithuanian transition towards sustainable energy: sociological account on a waste-to-energy case

Abstract

Energy production technologies have become closer to people's everyday life. Therefore, its social acceptability and scale of spread play a significant role in moving towards a climate-neutral society. A growing body of academic literature shows that social aspects are becoming more central in the transition process. The study's novelty derives from the conceptual framework for analyzing the possible social challenges of the transition and from empirical data that contributes to a more thorough understanding of the direction of the transition and practical opportunities identified by the experts. This article explores expert opinions of Lithuanian readiness to transit towards sustainable energy by analyzing the applicability of Waste to Energy (WtE) and further development in Lithuania. The transition and social acceptability are discussed in three dimensions (socio-political, communal and market). The paper is based on qualitative research conducted at the end of 2021 and the beginning of 2022. Among other discoveries, the study revealed that the majority of experts tend to support WtE input for the Lithuanian transition towards a sustainable energy sector but indicated that some better public awareness, as well as the justified and transparent mechanism of WtE implementation (to correspond with public interest), are needed.