Distributed Energy Systems and Energy Communities Under Negotiation

Abstract New decentralized energy-generation technologies have turned economies of scale upside down while becoming more economically viable. At the same time, increased penetration information has led to new opportunities manage infrastructure in a less hierarchical, flexible way. Together with citizen demands for control over energy, these two converging trends put energy communities (ECs) on agenda, potentially advancing transition towards sustainable systems, despite hindrances encountered This paper presents case study planning process city district Sweden, using participatory observations and interviews conducted included stakeholders. We analyse how stakeholders reasoned about establishing system area, including microgrid. The discussions microgrid comprised parallel discourses, coexisting but seldomly explicitly confronted. distribution operator area promoted distributed (DES) solution, property developers opted organized as community (CEC). discuss why CEC proponents so far lost battle creating owned smart grid. conclude that different models, DES CEC, comprise values an focus could shift pathway involving other prioritise than just economical.