Energi och förmåga - Analytiska perspektiv och empiriska erfarenheter inom drivmedelsområdet

In the report we analyse the concept of capability and compare it to related
concepts such as resilience. With starting point in a sociotechnical system
perspective as well as existing research on capability and vulnerability we
develop an analytical framework that could be used to study the capability in
different energy systems. We suggest that capability could be seen as composed
of five “building blocks”: technical structures, natural resources, economic
resources, institutions and actors. The building stones, in different combinations,
contribute to various primary capabilities (to prevent, withstand, handle and
recover), which altogether sums up to the system capability. Attention is also
given to the characteristics of threats and to what degree the driver behind these
threats is seen to be internal or external and if the threat manifests itself as a oneoff event or more enduring stress. By using the framework when conducting an
empirical study of the Swedish transportation fuel system we discuss weaknesses
and strengths in the capability of this system.