SIF Lecture Series - Magnus de Witt
Exploring Arctic Energy
REYKJAVIK, May 23 - The Sustainability Institute & Forum (SIF) hosted it's second lunchtime lecture series, featuring doctoral candidate Magnus de Witt. Magnus de Witt is a doctoral student at the Department of Engineering at Reykjavík University. His research interest focuses on energy-related issues in the Arctic, with a central focus on the energy transition in remote Arctic communities. His research includes energy security, energy policy, technologies, and community engagement. Magnus has traveled across the Arctic to conduct field studies and see the energy situation firsthand. Prior to his doctoral studies, Magnus earned an MSc in Sustainable Energy Engineering from the Iceland School of Energy and a BSc in Mechanical Engineering.
Magnus' lecture focused on the energy transition in remote Arctic communities. Magnus shares that currently, 80% of remote Arctic communities use fossil fuels as primary energy source. These fossil fuels create a high-cost burden due to transportation complexity in the remote Arctic. As Magnus explains, these high fuel and electricity costs occur in an area where poverty and unemployment are common issues.
His research will indicate if renewable energy bears the potential to lower this cost burden. Magnus's talk focused on the availability of renewable energy sources in the Arctic and analyze how renewables, such as hydropower, wind, and photovoltaics, can be used in remote communities. Magnus emphasizes how essential it is to take the needs of the communities into account and see how people interact with energy in the Arctic. We can see energy needs for several purposes like space heating, fuel for different kinds of vehicles, and electricity, which are all essential to the well-being of Arctic communities.
For integrating renewables, Magnus believes it is vital to incorporate the local's views to avoid the negative impact of renewables. The results from his fieldwork give a glimpse of a local's perspective and social acceptance of renewables. Through this talk, Magnus shed light on the feasibility of renewables in the Arctic and if renewable energy can be a cost-competitive option compared to the currently predominating diesel use.
The Sustainability Institute & Forum (SIF) warmly thanks Magnus for giving an excellent lecture. We look forward to his defense in the coming months!
