How municipalities act under the new paradigm for energy planning

Abstract Radical changes in energy production, going from sector-based energy systems based on fossil energy resources to smart energy systems based on renewable resources are starting to occur worldwide. This transition is a matter of balancing technical solutions with societal needs and possibilities, which requires a large effort in terms of policymaking and energy planning. This paper investigates how Danish municipalities are currently dealing with these issues through strategic energy planning. Through a case study of a Danish municipality, strategic and practical barriers to municipal strategic energy planning are identified. The paper ends by presenting recommendations on how to eliminate the identified barriers. In doing so, this paper brings new knowledge into further research of national and local framework conditions for strategic energy planning and thereby, the green transition of the energy system.