Abstract
ABSTRACTSmart city experiments have the potential to reshape urban climate change governance. Smart city initiatives have been supported by international technology companies and the European Union for many years and continue to be promoted by national and municipal governments. In relation to sustainability and climate change, such initiatives promise more efficient use of resources through the use of information and communications technology in energy infrastructure. Experiments with smart city technologies such as urban smart grids have shown the potential to restructure relationships between energy utilities, energy users and other actors by reconfiguring the dynamics of energy supply and demand. But do urban experiments lead to institutional change? The aim of the article is to provide a better understanding of how smart city experiments reshape the urban governance of building energy use. Hyllie, a new city district in Malmö, Sweden, was home to two smart city experiments that contributed to the institutionalization of urban smart grid technology. However, the analysis of Hyllie’s policy assemblages shows that this institutional change could redefine sustainability at the expense of energy efficiency.
Highlights
Smart city experiments have the potential to reshape urban climate change governance
Which processes serve to institutionalize the results of smart city experiments? In what ways do these processes contribute to the de-institutionalization of existing governance arrangements? This article focuses on the governance of building energy use because it a longstanding challenge that could be alleviated by the restructuring of relationships that urban smart grids promise
With Eon’s central role, the smart grid policy assemblage differs from the energy efficiency policy assemblage
Summary
Smart city experiments have the potential to reshape urban climate change governance. The aim of the article is to provide a better understanding of how smart city experiments reshape the urban governance of building energy use. Some local governments have used collaborative planning processes that promote learning and the formulation of a common vision (Smedby & Neij, 2013), while others have provided technical knowledge to reduce the cost of energy efficient building construction (Quitzau, Jensen, Elle, & Hoffmann, 2013) While these policies primarily influence the relations between local government and developers, they can affect energy utilities. Released in 2015, it is a voluntary programme with the aim of encouraging developers to contribute to the city’s environmental ambitions for Hyllie It provides the city administration’s perspective on how the governance of building energy use should occur in light of these experiments.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
