Abstract
Positive Energy Districts (PEDs) are a new energy initiative from European member states. They are, simply put, local districts which produce more energy than they consume. PEDs are expected to adopt a more human-centric perspective in order to create more liveable and sustainable urban neighbourhoods. However, as previous research on energy transitions has demonstrated, the mainstream approach and technocratic tradition of research and policy vis-à-vis energy transitions could result in the perpetuation of social inequalities, energy injustices, and the passive participation of citizens also within PEDs. Hence, it is crucial in these early days of PEDs to discuss what a human-centric approach should entail and how it should be enacted. Based on a narrative literature review of critical social sciences' energy research (and specifically from social and environmental psychology), this paper will propose a critical framework containing five key dimensions which are relevant for creating more just and inclusive PEDs. These are: uncertainty, risk perception and trust; distributive justice; recognition justice and people-place relations; procedural justice; and, routines, capabilities and lived experiences. To that end, it will also discuss the different implications of mainstream and critical approaches in energy research and social sciences in relation to the deployment of human-centric PEDs. The review concludes that in order to successfully deploy human-centric PEDs, a critical approach is needed and presents some concrete recommendations for future research and policy in order to adopt such an approach. These include: considering justice, inclusion and the well-being of affected socio-ecological systems in the whole-life cycle of PEDs; better integration of indigenous capabilities; and, an ethos of de-growth and circularity in their deployment.
Highlights
Positive Energy Districts Within a Human-Centric Perspective: What Does It Mean?The transition to low-carbon energy sources has been a key focus amongst efforts to mitigate climate change in European countries (EU-27)
Based on the narrative literature review as described above, these socio-psychological factors are grouped into five interconnected dimensions, here proposed as the critical conceptual framework for fostering human-centric Positive Energy Districts (PEDs)
According to the Strategic Energy Technology (SET)-Plan Action 3.2 (SET-Plan Working Group, 2018), energy production for building stock, transportation and other demands in PEDs needs to be generated from renewable sources to ensure a net zero CO2 emission target
Summary
Positive Energy Districts Within a Human-Centric Perspective: What Does It Mean?The transition to low-carbon energy sources has been a key focus amongst efforts to mitigate climate change in European countries (EU-27). It intends to make energy distribution more efficient, and pro-actively encourages energy saving behaviours from end-consumers (European Commission, 2018) To achieve this target, the EU and its member states have been building large scale renewable energy projects both within and outside Europe (e.g., wind farms in Mexico exploited by international energy utility companies, VelascoHerrejon and Bauwens, 2020). Many European countries are developing digital technology and infrastructure which enables local renewable energy production and exchange This reduces dependence upon the central grid, whilst aiming to empower citizens and stakeholders to join the state in governing their energy system. This is especially the case in smart and/or sustainable cities (Caramizaru and Uihlein, 2020; Levenda et al, 2020)
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