Typology of centralised and decentralised visions for electricity infrastructure

• Published in: Utilities policy Vol. 40; pp. 67 - 74
• Main Authors: Funcke, Simon, Bauknecht, Dierk
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.06.2016
• Subjects: Centralisation; Centralization; Controllability; Decentralisation; Decentralization; Design engineering; Electric utilities; Electricity; Electricity distribution; Electricity infrastructure; Flexibility; Germany; Infrastructure; Proximity; Typological analysis; Utilities; Vision; Visions; Decentralisation; Visions; Centralisation; Electricity infrastructure
• ISSN: 0957-1787; 1878-4356
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jup.2016.03.005

Scientific and public controversies about the design of future electricity systems can be observed, including differences around centralised and decentralised approaches. Taking the German case as an example, we develop a typology of (de)centralisation that distinguishes between (1) infrastructure location (connectivity and proximity), and (2) infrastructure operation (flexibility and controllability). This typology is applied to two competing visions for the future of electricity infrastructure. A differentiated view of the various dimensions can contribute to the current debate, clarify visions for development paths, and inform infrastructure governance. •Relevant actors have diverging interests in future electricity system designs.•In Germany, the question of (de)centralisation in a future infrastructure with high shares of RES-E is being debated.•We ascertain that a minimum of infrastructure dimensions should be considered.•We develop a typology that allows classification of the (de)centralisation of energy infrastructure dimensions.•We apply the typology to two existing visions.