Reducing Energy Demand through Low Carbon Innovation: A Sociotechnical Transitions Perspective and Thirteen Research Debates

Energy Research & Social Science 40 (2018) 23–35

13 Pages Posted: 7 Sep 2019

See all articles by Frank Geels

Frank Geels

University of Manchester

Tim Schwanen

University of Utrecht

Steven Robert Sorrell

University of Sussex - Science and Technology Policy Research Unit (SPRU)

Kirsten Jenkins

University of Sussex

Benjamin K. Sovacool

Science Policy Research Unit; Department of Business Technology & Development

Date Written: September 3, 2018

Abstract

Improvements in energy efficiency and reductions in energy demand are expected to contribute more than half of the reduction in global carbon emissions over the next few decades. These unprecedented reductions require transformations in the systems that provide energy services. However, the dominant analytical perspectives, grounded in neoclassical economics and social psychology, focus upon marginal changes and provide only limited guidance on how such transformations may occur and how they can be shaped. We argue that a sociotechnical transitions perspective is more suited to address the complexity of the challenges involved. This perspective understands energy services as being provided through large-scale, capital intensive and long-lived infrastructures that co-evolve with technologies, institutions, skills, knowledge and behaviours to create broader ‘sociotechnical systems’. To provide guidance for research in this area, this paper identifies and describes thirteen debates in socio-technical transitions research, organized under the headings of emergence, diffusion and impact, as well as more synthetic cross-cutting issues.

Keywords: Energy efficiency, Energy end use, decarbonisation, Multilevel perspective on transitions

JEL Classification: O33

Suggested Citation

Geels, Frank and Schwanen, Tim and Sorrell, Steven Robert and Jenkins, Kirsten and Sovacool, Benjamin K., Reducing Energy Demand through Low Carbon Innovation: A Sociotechnical Transitions Perspective and Thirteen Research Debates (September 3, 2018). Energy Research & Social Science 40 (2018) 23–35, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3447291

Frank Geels

University of Manchester ( email )

Oxford Road
Manchester, N/A M13 9PL
United Kingdom

Tim Schwanen

University of Utrecht

Vredenburg 138
NL-3508 TC Utrecht, 3511 BG
Netherlands

Steven Robert Sorrell

University of Sussex - Science and Technology Policy Research Unit (SPRU) ( email )

Mantell Building
Falmer
Brighton BN1 9RH UK, Sussex
United Kingdom

Kirsten Jenkins

University of Sussex

Sussex House
Falmer
Brighton, Sussex BNI 9RH
United Kingdom

Benjamin K. Sovacool (Contact Author)

Science Policy Research Unit ( email )

Falmer, Brighton BN1 9SL
United Kingdom

HOME PAGE: http://www.sussex.ac.uk/profiles/373957

Department of Business Technology & Development ( email )

Nordre Ringgade 1
Aarhus C, DK-8000
Denmark

HOME PAGE: http://pure.au.dk/portal/en/persons/id(fca10105-c4eb-4f0f-99a7-a354a8a8a47a).html

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