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An Indicator-Based Approach for Analyzing the Resilience of Transitions for Energy Regions. Part I: Theoretical and Conceptual Considerations

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  • Claudia R. Binder

    (Laboratory for Human Environment Relations in Urban Systems (HERUS), Swiss Mobiliar Chair in Urban Ecology and Sustainable Living, Institute of Environmental Engineering, ENAC, École Polytechnique Fédéral de Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
    Research and Teaching Unit in Human-Environment Relations, Department for Geography, Ludwig-Maximilian University Munich (LMU), 80539 München, Germany)

  • Susan Mühlemeier

    (Laboratory for Human Environment Relations in Urban Systems (HERUS), Swiss Mobiliar Chair in Urban Ecology and Sustainable Living, Institute of Environmental Engineering, ENAC, École Polytechnique Fédéral de Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
    Research and Teaching Unit in Human-Environment Relations, Department for Geography, Ludwig-Maximilian University Munich (LMU), 80539 München, Germany)

  • Romano Wyss

    (Laboratory for Human Environment Relations in Urban Systems (HERUS), Swiss Mobiliar Chair in Urban Ecology and Sustainable Living, Institute of Environmental Engineering, ENAC, École Polytechnique Fédéral de Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
    Research and Teaching Unit in Human-Environment Relations, Department for Geography, Ludwig-Maximilian University Munich (LMU), 80539 München, Germany)

Abstract

The transition of our current energy system from a fossil-based system to a system based on renewables is likely to be one of the most complex and long-term societal transitions in history. The need for a fundamental system transformation raises the question of how to measure the continuing progress and the resilience of this process over time. This paper aims at developing the conceptualization and operationalization of resilience for energy systems in transition with regard to both social and technical aspects. Based on the resilience concept in social-ecological systems literature, we propose to conceptualize resilience for energy systems building on two core attributes of resilience, namely diversity and connectivity. We present an indicator set to operationalize these key attributes in social and technical systems using: (i) definitions and measurements for three fundamental diversity properties—variety, balance and disparity—and (ii) basic connectivity properties from the social network analysis literature—path length, centrality and modularity. Finally, we reflect on possibilities for an application of these indicators in the social and technical system’s spheres and discuss the added value of the approach for energy transition research.

Suggested Citation

  • Claudia R. Binder & Susan Mühlemeier & Romano Wyss, 2017. "An Indicator-Based Approach for Analyzing the Resilience of Transitions for Energy Regions. Part I: Theoretical and Conceptual Considerations," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(1), pages 1-18, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:10:y:2017:i:1:p:36-:d:86687
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Thorsten Schilling & Romano Wyss & Claudia R. Binder, 2018. "The Resilience of Sustainability Transitions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-23, December.
    2. He, Peijun & Ng, Tsan Sheng & Su, Bin, 2019. "Energy-economic resilience with multi-region input–output linear programming models," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    3. Linas Martišauskas & Juozas Augutis & Ričardas Krikštolaitis & Rolandas Urbonas & Inga Šarūnienė & Vytis Kopustinskas, 2022. "A Framework to Assess the Resilience of Energy Systems Based on Quantitative Indicators," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-25, May.
    4. Romano Wyss & Susan Mühlemeier & Claudia R. Binder, 2018. "An Indicator-Based Approach for Analysing the Resilience of Transitions for Energy Regions. Part II: Empirical Application to the Case of Weiz-Gleisdorf, Austria," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-21, August.
    5. Pingkuo, Liu & Huan, Peng, 2022. "What drives the green and low-carbon energy transition in China?: An empirical analysis based on a novel framework," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 239(PE).
    6. Nazakat Ali & Manzoor Hussain & Jang-Eui Hong, 2021. "Fault-Tolerance by Resilient State Transition for Collaborative Cyber-Physical Systems," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 9(22), pages 1-20, November.
    7. Adel Mottahedi & Farhang Sereshki & Mohammad Ataei & Ali Nouri Qarahasanlou & Abbas Barabadi, 2021. "The Resilience of Critical Infrastructure Systems: A Systematic Literature Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-32, March.
    8. Rubio-Varas, Mar & Muñoz-Delgado, Beatriz, 2019. "Long-term diversification paths and energy transitions in Europe," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 163(C), pages 158-168.

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