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The centre cannot (always) hold : examining pathways towards energy system de-centralisation
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Judson, E., Fitch-Roy, O., Pownall, T., Bray, R., Poulter, H., Soutar, I., Lowes, R., Connor, P. M., Britton, J., Woodman, B. and Mitchell, C. (2020) The centre cannot (always) hold : examining pathways towards energy system de-centralisation. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews , 118 . 109499. doi:10.1016/j.rser.2019.109499 ISSN 1364-0321.
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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2019.109499
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.
Item Type: | Journal Article | |||||||||||||||
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Subjects: | T Technology > TD Environmental technology. Sanitary engineering T Technology > TJ Mechanical engineering and machinery |
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Divisions: | Faculty of Social Sciences > Warwick Business School > Strategy & International Business Faculty of Social Sciences > Warwick Business School |
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Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH): | Renewable energy sources, Carbon offsetting , Renewable energy sources -- Case studies | |||||||||||||||
Journal or Publication Title: | Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews | |||||||||||||||
Publisher: | Pergamon | |||||||||||||||
ISSN: | 1364-0321 | |||||||||||||||
Official Date: | February 2020 | |||||||||||||||
Dates: |
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Volume: | 118 | |||||||||||||||
Article Number: | 109499 | |||||||||||||||
DOI: | 10.1016/j.rser.2019.109499 | |||||||||||||||
Status: | Peer Reviewed | |||||||||||||||
Publication Status: | Published | |||||||||||||||
Access rights to Published version: | Open Access (Creative Commons) | |||||||||||||||
Date of first compliant deposit: | 4 December 2019 | |||||||||||||||
Date of first compliant Open Access: | 10 December 2019 | |||||||||||||||
RIOXX Funder/Project Grant: |
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