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Auf dem Weg zum (de-)zentralen Energiesystem? Ein interdisziplinärer Beitrag zu wesentlichen Debatten

Author

Listed:
  • Weert Canzler
  • Ludger Gailing
  • Philipp Grundmann
  • Wolf-Peter Schill
  • Dirk Uhrlandt
  • Tilmann Rave

Abstract

Considering its energy and climate policy goals, the German energy transition means more than phasing out nuclear technology, increasing energy efficiency, and expanding renewable energy’s role for electricity generation. It encompasses heating and transportation in addition to electricity. All of the disruptions in the various sectors have one thing in common: questions of centralization and decentralization are being re-phrased. This article approaches various aspects of (de)centralization from the perspectives of different disciplines. From the technical and scientific viewpoint, there are different strategies for integrating fluctuating renewable electricity into the energy system. From the viewpoint of economics, market and system structures that tend toward decentralization on the one hand lead to efficiency losses. On the other hand, they may be better at satisfying specific consumer preferences and local cost and benefit effects. The field of spatial analysis says the area required by decentralized renewable energy tends to be higher, which will lead to new discourses, forms of governance, and regional spheres of activity. The agricultural economics perspective raises issues of (de)centralization that primarily focus on the implications of different modes of production and organization of biomass-based energy supply. The social sciences perspective puts issues related to the acceptance of the energy transition - including promising opportunities for participation and the fair distribution of benefits and burdens - at the center of the (de)centralization debate. The interdisciplinary approach taken here creates a heterogeneous picture. It points out that the post-fossil fuel era is contingent and cannot detach itself from the charged relationship between centralization and decentralization. Mit Blick auf die energie- und klimapolitischen Ziele umfasst die deutsche Energiewende mehr als den Ausstieg aus der Atomtechnik, die Steigerung der Energieeffizienz und den Ausbau der erneuerbaren Energien bei der Stromproduktion. Sie schließt neben einer Stromwende auch eine Wärme- und Verkehrswende mit ein. Allen Umbrüchen in den verschiedenen Sektoren ist gemeinsam, dass sich Fragen von Zentralität und Dezentralität neu stellen. Dieser Beitrag nähert sich unterschiedlichen Dimensionen von (De-)Zentralität aus verschiedenen fachlichen Perspektiven an. Aus technisch-naturwissenschaftlicher Sicht gibt es unterschiedliche (de-)zentrale Strategien der Systemintegration fluktuierender erneuerbarer Stromerzeugungsanlagen. Aus ökonomischer Perspektive dürften stärker dezentral ausgerichtete Markt- und Systemstrukturen einerseits zu Effizienzeinbußen führen; andererseits könnten sie entsprechenden Konsumentenpräferenzen sowie lokalen Kosten- und Nutzeneffekten möglicherweise besser gerecht werden. Aus raumwissenschaftlicher Sicht führt der tendenziell höhere Flächenbedarf dezentraler erneuerbarer Energien zu neuen Diskursen, Governanceformen und regionalen Handlungsräumen. Aus agrarökonomischer Perspektive stellen sich Fragen der (De-)Zentralität vor allem in Hinblick auf die Implikationen unterschiedlicher Produktions- und Organisationsstrukturen der biomassebasierten Energie. Aus sozialwissenschaftlicher Perspektive stehen Fragen der Akzeptanz der Energiewende im Mittelpunkt der (De-)Zentralitätsdebatte, insbesondere erfolgversprechende Partizipationsmöglichkeiten sowie eine faire Nutzen- und Lastenverteilung. Mit der hier vorgenommenen multidisziplinären Betrachtung entsteht ein heterogenes Bild. Deutlich wird, dass eine postfossile Energiezukunft kontingent ist und die Beantwortung von Fragen zum Spannungsverhältnis von Zentralität und Dezentralität unumgänglich ist.

Suggested Citation

  • Weert Canzler & Ludger Gailing & Philipp Grundmann & Wolf-Peter Schill & Dirk Uhrlandt & Tilmann Rave, 2016. "Auf dem Weg zum (de-)zentralen Energiesystem? Ein interdisziplinärer Beitrag zu wesentlichen Debatten," Vierteljahrshefte zur Wirtschaftsforschung / Quarterly Journal of Economic Research, DIW Berlin, German Institute for Economic Research, vol. 85(4), pages 127-159.
  • Handle: RePEc:diw:diwvjh:85-4-10
    DOI: 10.3790/vjh.85.4.127
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. van Zyl-Bulitta, Verena Helen & Ritzel, Christian & Stafford, William & Wong, James Gien, 2019. "A compass to guide through the myriad of sustainable energy transition options across the global North-South divide," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 181(C), pages 307-320.
    2. Ritter, David & Heinemann, Christoph & Bauknecht, Dierk & Winger, Christian & Flachsbarth, Franziska, 2021. "Model-based evaluation of decentralised electricity markets at different phases of the German energy transition," EconStor Preprints 234104, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics.
    3. Bauknecht, Dierk & Funcke, Simon & Vogel, Moritz, 2020. "Is small beautiful? A framework for assessing decentralised electricity systems," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 118(C).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Energy transition; centralised versus decentralised structures; interdisciplinary approach;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • Q42 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Energy - - - Alternative Energy Sources
    • Q48 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Energy - - - Government Policy
    • Q58 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environmental Economics: Government Policy
    • R10 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - General

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