Title: Shaping decentralised energy policies while thinking openly about future technologies

Authors: Gilbert Ahamer

Addresses: Global Studies, Institute for Economic History, Graz University, Graz, Austria

Abstract: The structure of an energy economy mirrors the views that a society has of itself: flexible, sustainable, self-responsible - or rather other values. In this light, the endeavour of transiting to a climate-compatible energy future means to take decisions now even if future technologies' performance is not yet known. Inspired by long-term trends as rendered visible through the 'global change database', especially that end-user-friendly energy carriers increase their market shares, it can be expected that electricity will witness further and solid growth rates within the final energy mix. However, interest-led groups from the gas industry contest an upcoming electricity-only energy future. Against this background, this article investigates dynamic details of the ongoing 'energy (r)evolution' and explores scenarios to which degree policies can think openly about the future while using sector coupling, synergies across energy carriers, and new financing models. It seems helpful to divide the energy transition into several phases.

Keywords: energy transition; energy trends; global change database; GCDB; transiting; European green deal; openness; future technologies; sector coupling; electricity; power-to-gas; sustainable energy.

DOI: 10.1504/IJFIP.2023.136754

International Journal of Foresight and Innovation Policy, 2023 Vol.16 No.2/3/4, pp.257 - 283

Received: 20 Jul 2023
Accepted: 04 Dec 2023
Published online: 19 Feb 2024 *

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