Abstract
The agency of incumbents has gained increasing attention in the study of transitions. Recent studies show that besides being inert and resistant to change, incumbents can also support transitions. We focus on the agency of a particular type of incumbent, grid operators. In several countries, these actors play an active role in institutional change in the energy domain. At the same time, they are engaging in activities to maintain the regime. This paper examines the actions of grid operators when performing institutional work, i.e. when creating, maintaining and disrupting institutions. We conducted a qualitative content analysis of Dutch media to analyze the actions of grid operators while engaging with decentralized energy innovations. We conclude that grid operators are both subject and object of institutional work as part of a distributed, collective process of institutional change. Furthermore, our analysis reflects on their paradoxical position as embedded actors engaging in institutional change.
Highlights
The agency of incumbents have gained increasing attention in the study of transitions (Karltorp and Sandén, 2012; Bakker, 2014; Geels, 2014; Berggren et al, 2015; Geels et al, 2016; van Mossel et al, 2018)
We focus on the agency of a particular type of incumbent, grid operators
We focus on a specific type of incumbent, grid operators (GOs) in the Dutch energy system
Summary
The agency of incumbents have gained increasing attention in the study of transitions (Karltorp and Sandén, 2012; Bakker, 2014; Geels, 2014; Berggren et al, 2015; Geels et al, 2016; van Mossel et al, 2018). Transition theory (most notably the multi-level perspective by Geels, 2002) typically conceptualizes incumbents as inert and resistant to change. This position of incumbents can be explained by their vested interests in the current system. Incumbents are defined as those actors that are deeply entrenched in the socio-technical regime They have accumulated (intangible) resources which provide competitive advantages over newcomers, have a strong network position in a regime, and can influence political processes of agenda-setting (Grin et al, 2011; Geels, 2014; Kungl, 2015)
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