Abstract
‘Energy decentralisation’ means many things to many people. Among the confusion of definitions and practices that may be characterised as decentralisation, three broad causal narratives are commonly (implicitly or explicitly) invoked. These narratives imply that the process of decentralisation: i) will result in appropriate changes to rules and institutions, ii) will be more democratic and iii) is directly and causally linked to energy system decarbonisation. The principal aim of this paper is to critically examine these narratives. By conceptualising energy decentralisation as a distinct class of socio-technical transition pathway, we present a comparative analysis of energy decentralisation in Cornwall, South West UK, the French island of Ushant and the National Electricity Market in Australia. We show that, while energy decentralisation is often strongly correlated with institutional change, increasing citizen agency in the energy system, and enhanced environmental performance, these trends cannot be assumed as given. Indeed, some decentralisation pathways may entrench incumbent actors' interests or block rapid decarbonisation. In particular, we show how institutional context is a key determinant of the link between energy decentralisation and normative goals such as democratisation and decarbonisation. While institutional theory suggests that changes in rules and institutions are often incremental and path-dependent, the dense legal and regulatory arrangements that develop around the electricity sector seem particularly resistant to adaptive change. Consequently, policymakers seeking to pursue normative goals such as democratisation or decarbonisation through energy decentralisation need to look beyond technology towards the rules, norms and laws that constitute the energy governance system.
Highlights
Energy decentralisation is nothing if not de rigueur, with the term used liberally across academic, policy and grey literature related to the energy system
Despite wild variation in the use of the term, implicit in much of the grey literature and some of the scholarly literature is a strong, causal association between energy de centralisation and progress towards sustainable, equitable energy sys tems [1]. This normative framing of the ‘rightness’ of decentralisation often rests on the reduced environmental impact of smaller-scale, more geographically distributed, and renewable energy generation technologies, an associated shift to distributed ownership and decision making, and greater autonomy of individuals in the energy system
We develop three international case studies of purported energy decentralisation to offer a glimpse of how energy decentralisa tion is being enacted or, rather, what processes are being enacted in the name of decentralisation
Summary
Energy decentralisation is nothing if not de rigueur, with the term used liberally across academic, policy and grey literature related to the energy system. Despite wild variation in the use of the term (what is being decentralised, by whom and the implications of such a definition), implicit in much of the grey literature and some of the scholarly literature is a strong, causal association between energy de centralisation and progress towards sustainable, equitable energy sys tems [1]. This normative framing of the ‘rightness’ of decentralisation often rests on the reduced environmental impact of smaller-scale, more geographically distributed, and (usually) renewable energy generation technologies, an associated shift to distributed ownership and decision making, and greater autonomy of individuals in the energy system.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 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.
