Marginalising household users in smart grids
2023 (Engelska) Ingår i: Technology in society, ISSN 0160-791X, E-ISSN 1879-3274, Vol. 72, artikel-id 102185Artikel i tidskrift (Refereegranskat) Published
Abstract [en]
Unless just and inclusive, transitions to low carbon-energy systems are unlikely to receive sufficient legitimacy and broad public support. While research on inequalities and injustices in energy transitions is growing, these issues remain less explored in the case of the digitalisation of the energy systems through smart grids and smart homes. This paper aims to synthetise our understandings of inequality, exclusion and vulnerability in energy transitions by systemically analysing different dimensions of marginalisation in the transition to a digitalised electricity infrastructure in Sweden. To synthetise understandings of marginalisation and exclusion, conceptualisations of these processes in different social science approaches to energy studies are reviewed. Moreover, an empirical analysis of interviews with a range of Swedish actors such as energy utilities, social housing developers or pensioner organisations is carried out and enriched by previous research on smart grid users. The empirical analysis demonstrates what specific forms that diverse categories of marginalisation, as already identified generally in different social science approaches to energy studies, may take in smart grids. We argue that marginalisation of household users in smart grids may take place along multiple dimensions, relating to matters of literacy, participation, infrastructure, and the economy. The analysis suggests that bundles of marginalisation aspects concerning household users in sustainable energy transitions should be recognised and addressed simultaneously.
Ort, förlag, år, upplaga, sidor Elsevier, 2023. Vol. 72, artikel-id 102185
Nyckelord [en]
Exclusion, Marginalisation, Smart grid, Sweden, Vulnerable consumers, Automation, Behavioral research, Intelligent buildings, Empirical analysis, Energy studies, Energy transitions, Low-carbon energy systems, Marginalization, Public support, Vulnerable consumer, Smart power grids, alternative energy, household energy, infrastructure, social exclusion
Nationell ämneskategori
Energisystem
Identifikatorer URN: urn:nbn:se:sh:diva-50714 DOI: 10.1016/j.techsoc.2022.102185 ISI: 000918882600001 Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-85145779697 OAI: oai:DiVA.org:sh-50714 DiVA, id: diva2:1729737
Forskningsfinansiär Energimyndigheten, 44341–1 2023-01-232023-01-232023-02-27 Bibliografiskt granskad