The centre cannot (always) hold: Examining pathways towards energy system de-centralisation

Judson, Emily; Fitch-Roy, Oscar; Pownall, T.; Bray, Rachel; Poulter, Helen; Soutar, Iain; Lowes, Richard; Connor, Peter; Britton, Jess; Woodman, Bridget; Mitchell, Catherine

doi:10.1016/j.rser.2019.109499

Cited by 56 publications

(36 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…The foregoing discussion indicates that there is potential to migrate from a centralised model of energy provision to a more decentralised energy system (Judson et al, 2020). However, if such a situation is to become mainstream, there must be active attempts made to ensure that the large energy companies allow new arrangements to emerge at a local level.…”

Section: Discussion: Who Are the Decentralised Energy Entrepreneurs?mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The rise of prosumers is connected to the transformation of energy systems towards more renewable, decentralised and demand responsive smart arrangements (Brown, Hall, & Davis, 2020). Decentralised energy is a multifaceted concept, and various terms have been used to describe the same phenomenon such as distributed or dispersed generation, on‐site renewables or on‐site generation (Devine‐Wright & Wiersma, 2013; Judson et al, 2020). According to the U.K. government, definition decentralised energy is not necessarily renewable, although it is characterised by the spatial proximity of energy generation and consumption (DBER, 2008).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…According to the U.K. government, definition decentralised energy is not necessarily renewable, although it is characterised by the spatial proximity of energy generation and consumption (DBER, 2008). Energy decentralisation has multiple meanings depending on what is being decentralised: ownership, hardware, knowledge, power or decision making (Brisbois, 2019; Judson et al, 2020).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A review of business models for decentralised renewable energy projects

Piterou

Coles

2020

Bus Strat Env

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The diffusion of renewable energy technologies has often been suggested as a means to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases, but emphasis tends to be placed on large scale projects. Adoption of renewable energy at the local level provides opportunities for both distributed energy schemes and domestic microgeneration. However, alternative models of ownership, governance and operation are not well developed. Locally managed energy solutions need to respond to varied end users' requirements to ensure that needs are met, so understanding of different types of end users is a prerequisite to the development of robust business models. This paper presents a review of existing models of decentralised energy generation in which actors such as community groups, energy cooperatives, charities and municipalities participate as owners and coproducers. End users can become involved in the design, development and delivery of energy services in a variety of ways. The focus is active user engagement through coconstruction, coproduction and coprovision of energy services. The following categories will be reviewed with reference to current understandings of both sustainable entrepreneurship and social enterprise: (a) energy service companies (ESCos) as commercial actors that undertake management of these projects, (b) energy cooperatives and (c) municipal energy. This analysis is used to reflect on and refine understanding of the relationship between technical, financial and operational constructs in models of decentralised energy generation which can contribute to social and environmental gains.

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Section: Discussion: Who Are the Decentralised Energy Entrepreneurs?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A review of business models for decentralised renewable energy projects

Piterou

Coles

2020

Bus Strat Env

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“…The project did not forecast which of these "logics" would dominate. More recently, Judson et al [36] note that "while decentralisation and democratisation can work together, it is not possible to assume any inherent relationship". In this paper we are not attempting any prediction of what pathway the energy transition will take; but rather we have worked with stakeholders to cocreate a vision where the full potential of community energy is realised in shaping and delivery of the energy transition and identify which actors will be important in determining whether such a vision happens in practice.…”

Section: Contextmentioning

confidence: 99%

The long term future for community energy in Great Britain: A co-created vision of a thriving sector and steps towards realising it

Braunholtz-Speight

McLachlan

Mander

et al. 2021

Energy Research & Social Science

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We use the term 'Great Britain' rather than 'United Kingdom' as the latter term refers to England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, but the research that this paper is based on was not conducted in Northern Ireland. Several aspects of energy regulation are different in Northern Ireland. 2 The term 'third sector' refers to charities, social enterprises, voluntary organisations and similar groups. It includes a diverse range of 'not for profit' organisations that are neither part of the public sector (the state) nor the private sector (commercial 'for profit' organisations).

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“…In addition to these technical challenges, integrating high levels of renewable energy raises further operational and regulatory challenges ( Judson et al, 2020 ). Renewables, particularly wind and solar power, differ from conventional generation in that they have low- or even negative marginal costs and their output is variable ( Morales et al, 2014 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Are we seeing clearly? The need for aligned vision and supporting strategies to deliver net-zero electricity systems

Ford

Hardy

2020

Energy Policy

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This paper explores the trends, step changes and innovations that could impact the integration of renewable energy into electricity systems, explores interventions that may be required, and identifies key areas for policy makers to consider. A Delphi approach is used to collect, synthesise, and seek consensus across expert viewpoints. Over sixty experts across a range of geographies including the US, Europe, New-Zealand, Australia, Africa, India and China participated. They identified 26 trends, 20 step changes, and 26 innovations that could lead to major shifts in the design, operation, or management of electricity systems. Findings suggest that key challenges are not technological. Instead they are with delivering an aligned vision, supported by institutional structures, to incentivise, facilitate, and de-risk the delivery of a completely different type of energy system. There is a clear role for government and policy to provide a future energy vision and steer on strategic issues to deliver it; to create space for new actors and business models aligned with this vision; and to create an environment where research, development, demonstration and deployment can promote technologies, system integration and business model innovation at a rate commensurate with delivering net-zero electricity systems.

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The centre cannot (always) hold: Examining pathways towards energy system de-centralisation

Cited by 56 publications

References 30 publications

A review of business models for decentralised renewable energy projects

A review of business models for decentralised renewable energy projects

The long term future for community energy in Great Britain: A co-created vision of a thriving sector and steps towards realising it

Are we seeing clearly? The need for aligned vision and supporting strategies to deliver net-zero electricity systems

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