Decentralized energy futures: Pathways and lock-ins towards emerging new logics of energy-system organization

Dierk Bauknecht; Simon Bolwig; Klaus Kubeczko; Harald Rohracher; Anna Wieczorek; Regine Belhomme; Nicole Kerkhof-Damen; Simone Maggiore

Decentralized energy futures: Pathways and lock-ins towards emerging new logics of energy-system organization

Dierk Bauknecht, Simon Bolwig^*, Klaus Kubeczko, Harald Rohracher, Anna Wieczorek, Regine Belhomme, Nicole Kerkhof-Damen, Simone Maggiore

^*Corresponding author for this work

Department of People and Technology

Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper › Research

Abstract

The paper explores potential lock-ins on the pathways towards alternative, emerging configurations of decentralized energy systems that meet the need for a carbon neutral energy future. In our analysis we draw on four emerging ideal-type decentralization configurations or ‘energy futures’ (individual-outward, individual-inward, collective-outward, collective-inward) and the institutional, actor and technological preconditions they require to become dominant forms of decentralization. We take a forward-looking approach and consider different lock-ins that may be created on the path towards the four decentralized futures and the implications for the sustainability of decentralized energy futures and for how such sustainability should be assessed. We conclude with an overview on the different effects such future lock-ins can have and explain the challenges of detecting them.

Original language	English
Publication date	1 Nov 2022
Number of pages	21
Publication status	Published - 1 Nov 2022
Event	13th International Sustainability Transitions Conference: Sustainability Transitions in a Global Context - South Africa, Australia, USA, Online, Stellenbosch, South Africa Duration: 21 Nov 2022 → 25 Nov 2022 Conference number: 13 https://consultus.eventsair.com/ist2022-conference/

Conference

Conference	13th International Sustainability Transitions Conference
Number	13
Location	South Africa, Australia, USA, Online
Country/Territory	South Africa
City	Stellenbosch
Period	21/11/2022 → 25/11/2022
Internet address	https://consultus.eventsair.com/ist2022-conference/

Bibliographical note

The paper can be made available on request.

Keywords

Lock-in
Path dependency
Energy systems
Decentralization
sustainability transitions
Foresight

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Decentralized energy futures: pathways and lock-ins towards emerging new logics of energy-system organization
Bolwig, S. (Speaker)
21 Nov 2022 → 23 Nov 2022
Activity: Talk or presentation › Lecture and oral contribution

File

Cite this

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title = "Decentralized energy futures: Pathways and lock-ins towards emerging new logics of energy-system organization",

abstract = "The paper explores potential lock-ins on the pathways towards alternative, emerging configurations of decentralized energy systems that meet the need for a carbon neutral energy future. In our analysis we draw on four emerging ideal-type decentralization configurations or {\textquoteleft}energy futures{\textquoteright} (individual-outward, individual-inward, collective-outward, collective-inward) and the institutional, actor and technological preconditions they require to become dominant forms of decentralization. We take a forward-looking approach and consider different lock-ins that may be created on the path towards the four decentralized futures and the implications for the sustainability of decentralized energy futures and for how such sustainability should be assessed. We conclude with an overview on the different effects such future lock-ins can have and explain the challenges of detecting them.",

keywords = "Lock-in, Path dependency, Energy systems, Decentralization, sustainability transitions, Foresight",

author = "Dierk Bauknecht and Simon Bolwig and Klaus Kubeczko and Harald Rohracher and Anna Wieczorek and Regine Belhomme and Nicole Kerkhof-Damen and Simone Maggiore",

note = "The paper can be made available on request.; 13th International Sustainability Transitions Conference : Sustainability Transitions in a Global Context, IST 2022 ; Conference date: 21-11-2022 Through 25-11-2022",

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T1 - Decentralized energy futures

T2 - 13th International Sustainability Transitions Conference

AU - Bauknecht, Dierk

AU - Bolwig, Simon

AU - Kubeczko, Klaus

AU - Rohracher, Harald

AU - Wieczorek, Anna

AU - Belhomme, Regine

AU - Kerkhof-Damen, Nicole

AU - Maggiore, Simone

N1 - Conference code: 13

PY - 2022/11/1

Y1 - 2022/11/1

N2 - The paper explores potential lock-ins on the pathways towards alternative, emerging configurations of decentralized energy systems that meet the need for a carbon neutral energy future. In our analysis we draw on four emerging ideal-type decentralization configurations or ‘energy futures’ (individual-outward, individual-inward, collective-outward, collective-inward) and the institutional, actor and technological preconditions they require to become dominant forms of decentralization. We take a forward-looking approach and consider different lock-ins that may be created on the path towards the four decentralized futures and the implications for the sustainability of decentralized energy futures and for how such sustainability should be assessed. We conclude with an overview on the different effects such future lock-ins can have and explain the challenges of detecting them.

AB - The paper explores potential lock-ins on the pathways towards alternative, emerging configurations of decentralized energy systems that meet the need for a carbon neutral energy future. In our analysis we draw on four emerging ideal-type decentralization configurations or ‘energy futures’ (individual-outward, individual-inward, collective-outward, collective-inward) and the institutional, actor and technological preconditions they require to become dominant forms of decentralization. We take a forward-looking approach and consider different lock-ins that may be created on the path towards the four decentralized futures and the implications for the sustainability of decentralized energy futures and for how such sustainability should be assessed. We conclude with an overview on the different effects such future lock-ins can have and explain the challenges of detecting them.

KW - Lock-in

KW - Path dependency

KW - Energy systems

KW - Decentralization

KW - sustainability transitions

KW - Foresight

M3 - Paper

Y2 - 21 November 2022 through 25 November 2022

ER -

Decentralized energy futures: Pathways and lock-ins towards emerging new logics of energy-system organization

Abstract

Conference

Bibliographical note

Keywords

UN SDGs

Activities

Decentralized energy futures: pathways and lock-ins towards emerging new logics of energy-system organization

Cite this