Resilience of the energy transition: diversity and connectivity of supply networks
The transition required to shift from fuel-based solutions to a renewable energy system is a complex disruptive transformation and needs the full engagement of society for its long-term success. The diffusion of innovative energy technologies in society can be key to this transition. Extensive literature has covered the role of social influence and peer effects in the adoption of photovoltaics but the importance of the supply-side dynamics in supporting this technological and market change has received less attention. Literature on innovations highlights the importance of inter-organisational networks in the development of innovative technologies. However, to achieve the objectives of the energy transition, innovation networks must also have structural properties to support long-term change in the face of adverse conditions and external shocks. This work focuses on the resilience of innovation networks in the sector of energy management systems (EMS) integrated with photovoltaics (PV) and electromobility (EV) in Switzerland, emphasizing the identification and analysis of tipping points that could either foster or hinder the transition towards renewable energy technologies. It explores the adaptive capacities of these networks, focusing on their ability to absorb shocks, reorganize, and continue to develop amidst external pressures and internal dynamics. In the context of the energy transition, resilience has been conceptualized from a socio-technical perspective and operationalised with two core attributes: diversity and connectivity. The measure of diversity is linked to the structural attributes of the system, while connectivity is process-oriented and related to the interaction between the system components. We identified and characterized 926 relevant supply-side actors in the field, iteratively through desktop research, interviews, surveys, and workshops. We conducted a geo-survey, collecting data from 157 actors regarding their information exchanges, events and associations used to exchange information, and geographic data associated with these interactions. By constructing socio-spatial information networks, we measured diversity and connectivity. The structural characteristics of the network suggest that supply-side actors in the energy sector are tightly and evenly interconnected through events and associations, with low modularity values. While this may support the rapid diffusion of information, it could also foster the spread of rather homogeneous thinking and block the emergence of alternative ideas. The results also show how events are able to bring together a variety of professionals. This can be key to rapidly coordinating in the situation of an external shock or disruption and can support the exchange of different viewpoints within the regional and national government system. These findings suggest that to ensure the resilience of the system during the transition, the sectors should foster clusters of actors that can develop independent thinking and leverage the potential of events and associations to create spaces of discussion and exchange. Through a combination of theoretical insights and empirical data, this research contributes to a deeper understanding of how resilience mechanisms within social networks can facilitate or obstruct the energy transition, offering strategic directions for policy and practice to leverage these insights towards achieving a sustainable and resilient energy future for Switzerland.
EPFL
EPFL
EPFL
2024-06-29
EPFL
| Event name | Event acronym | Event place | Event date |
Sunbelt | Edinburgh, UK | 2024-06-24 - 2024-06-30 | |