How can youth perspectives shape Norway's 2050 electricity system?

While participatory research seeks to engage stakeholders, young people—who will bear the consequences of recent policy decisions—remain largely overlooked, as evidenced by climate strikes and environmental movements highlighting their growing distrust in the energy transition process. In this interdisciplinary study, we conducted workshops with students to develop diverse scenarios assessing the impact of pupils’ socio-techno-economic choices on the snapshots of a 2050 net-zero electricity system for Norway. We use those scenarios in an electricity system model for Norway. Our results indicate that pupil landscape preferences reduce Norway’s land-based capacity potential by more than half, resulting in an approximate 9% increase in the Levelized Cost of Electricity, from 790 to 880 NOK/MWh. Given that 68% of pupils favored offshore wind, integrating their technological preferences reduces the onshore wind portfolio from 33 GW to nearly zero in the most conservative scenario, accompanied by a reduction in solar capacity from 30 GW to 6 GW. Regional preferences lead to a concentrated allocation of new offshore wind installations predominantly in the west and south of Norway, areas with existing hydropower, potentially inducing local socio-political issues. Moreover, pupils supported new transmission lines and electricity trading under the condition of self-sufficiency, reducing system costs by approximately 8%, providing a win-win scenario for Norway and Europe. The cumulative impact of pupil choices significantly depends on how they are prioritized. The median system cost for achieving a net-zero emission system could likely be reduced by 7%-8% if Norway prioritizes investments in transmission infrastructure locally and through interconnections with neighboring countries while honoring youth preferences. Building on evolving participatory research, this study not only provides a framework for fostering mutual understanding with youth but also demonstrates their capacity for meaningful participation in energy transition discussions, thus promoting an inclusive and swift energy transition.