Konseptualisering og legitimering av vindkraft i Norge : En positiv storyline om en ny energiteknologi

Abstract

Thismaster's thesis is inspired by the growing tendency in social scienceto use narratives to investigate, describe,and explain the social aspects of energy technology. More specifically, the thesis is an examination of how an overall positive storyline attempts to conceptualize and legitimize wind power towards the public at a national level. How does a positive storyline about wind power conceptualize and legitimize the use oftheenergy technologyin Norway?The positive storyline about wind power is an overall andcompact account of wind power,which aims to make sense of wind power forthe general public, butwill alsotry toconvince the public thatthis accountof wind power is the right one. The positive storyline about wind powerleads to a specific presentation of wind power based on the overall impression created by narratives and conceptual metaphors. It is in this production that we can see how the storyline conceptualizesand legitimizes wind power in Norway.The positive storyline about wind power consists of the discourses of economic growth, energy,and climate. The discourses produce narratives about industrialdevelopment, local development, power exports, energy security,and climate change. When these narratives come together in an overall storyline, they are also accompanied by the conceptual metaphors:of the oil nation, the renewal nation, the energy nation, the industrial adventure, the maritimenation,and the green shift.The positive storyline about wind power tells its audience that wind powershould be a means to achieve three distinct but related goals. Wind power is a means to achieve development,increase energy production,and climate mitigation.The storylineconnects wind power to thenation's self-understanding.The storyline does thisin two ways. First, by referring to the nation's traditions by connecting wind power to Norway's energy traditions, industrial traditions,and maritime traditions. Secondly, thestoryline makes wind power relevant to Norway's future by presenting wind power as a necessary measure for a successful reorganization. A change that will secure Norway's future against climate change.