A socio-technical approach to digitalization and decentralization in the transition of energy systems

Digitalization and decentralization are key factors in energy systems’ transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources. With established grid systems and the technical development of distributed energy resources, electricity systems become part of socio-technical transitions that increasingly comprise digitalization. This article offers an interdisciplinary perspective on the contemporary challenges that electrical systems face. It is largely focused on developments in Germany, where such changes are informed by shifts in the broader European energy market. Written by and for social, computer, and engineering scientists, it aims to address both the current state of research and open questions resulting from the interplay of these perspectives, allowing for a communication across disciplines which in turn fosters a more comprehensive understanding of what digitalizing electrical grids includes. We employ the potential and challenges of the transition of electricity systems by taking into account technological, technical, political, economic, and social factors. Looking at the relationship between grids and society, technical developments in electricity production, the principles of programming grid management, and social questions related to labor and technology, we have set out a research agenda for studying the digitalization of electrical grids in an interdisciplinary setting.