Abstract
Urban energy systems have been commonly considered to be socio-technical systems within the boundaries of an urban area. However, recent literature challenges this notion in that it urges researchers to look at the wider interactions and influences of urban energy systems wherein the socio-technical sphere is expanded to political, environmental and economic realms as well. In addition to the inter-sectoral linkages, the diverse agents and multilevel governance trends of energy sustainability in the dynamic environment of cities make the urban energy landscape a complex one. There is a strong case then for establishing a new conceptualisation of urban energy systems that builds upon these contemporary understandings of such systems. We argue that the complex systems approach can be suitable for this. In this paper, we propose a pilot framework for understanding urban energy systems using complex systems theory as an integrating plane. We review the multiple streams of urban energy literature to identify the contemporary discussions and construct this framework that can serve as a common ontological understanding for the different scholarships studying urban energy systems. We conclude the paper by highlighting the ways in which the framework can serve some of the relevant communities.
Highlights
Cities account for two-thirds of global primary energy demand that makes understanding of urban energy systems central to sustainable transitions (Grubler et al, 2012; Rambelli, Donat, Ahamer, & Radunsky, 2017)
In much the same way that Elinor Ostrom proposed that “A common, classificatory framework is needed to facilitate multidisciplinary efforts toward a better understanding of complex SESs (Social-Ecological Systems)” we here propose that those involved in research domain of UESs across different disciplines need a common framework of understanding through the complex systems approach; as “without a framework to organize relevant variables identified in theories and empirical research, isolated knowledge acquired from studies ...is not likely to accumulate” (Ostrom, 2009)
The Complexity Academy characterises a complex system as one with heterogeneous and diverse elements that enjoy a certain degree of interconnection and agency that lets them adapt to changes over time (Crawford, 2016)
Summary
Cities account for two-thirds of global primary energy demand that makes understanding of urban energy systems central to sustainable transitions (Grubler et al, 2012; Rambelli, Donat, Ahamer, & Radunsky, 2017). While large infrastructure systems and the urban metabolism literature look at the interdependency of cities and external environments (Bai, 2016; Monstadt, 2009; Rutherford & Coutard, 2014), governance and political enquiries look at the influence of decision making, policies and politics of institutions at higher levels (Bulkeley et al, 2011; Jaglin, 2014; Rutherford & Coutard, 2014) These contemporary multidisciplinary insights, developments and understandings of the urban energy sector indicate the need for a new ontology and approach and possibly a shared comprehensive framework for UESs. In this paper, we argue that this could be realised through a complex systems approach (Bale, Varga, & Foxon, 2015; Rutter & Keirstead, 2012). In much the same way that Elinor Ostrom proposed that “A common, classificatory framework is needed to facilitate multidisciplinary efforts toward a better understanding of complex SESs (Social-Ecological Systems)” we here propose that those involved in research domain of UESs across different disciplines need a common framework of understanding through the complex systems approach; as “without a framework to organize relevant variables identified in theories and empirical research, isolated knowledge acquired from studies ...is not likely to accumulate” (Ostrom, 2009)
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