Seeking Public Values of Digital Energy Platforms

Abstract

Digital energy platforms play a central role in the transition toward a more sustainable energy system. This research explores the (potential) effect of digital energy platforms on public values. We developed and tested a novel public value framework, combining values already embedded in energy and digitalization regulations and emerging values that have become more relevant in recent debates. We analyzed value changes and potential value tensions. We found that sustainability is prioritized, security is broadened to include cybersecurity, and values relevant for digital technologies, such as control over technology, have also become relevant for the energy system. This has resulted in three value tensions: preserving a well-functioning energy system, self-determination, and ensuring a level playing field and public control. A sustainable energy system requires governments to address these value changes, value tensions, and connected societal and political challenges related to the implementation of digital energy platforms.

Value Change in Energy Systems

“…Another driver of value change may be technological convergence. Niet et al (2021), in their contribution, describe how digital energy platforms are a convergence of digital and energy technologies, which makes values from both technological domains relevant for their design and governance.…”

“…The contribution of Niet et al (2021) focuses on the implications for the design of future energy technologies of value change; their focus is specifically on digital energy platforms. They make an inventory of what values are likely to be important for the design of such systems, taking into account that digital energy platforms are a merger of digital and energy technologies.…”

Advanced HRM practices and digital personnel for digital energetics based on the technologies of Industry 4.0

“…However, in most cases, industrial robots and other "smart" technologies of industry 4.0 do not displace human resources, but transform the need for them and change the functional component of their work (Matsunaga et al, 2022;Niet et al, 2021;Shinkevich et al, 2021;Udin, 2020). At the same time, not purely cybernetic, but cyber-physical systems are being formed in the energy economy, in which the "smart" technologies of industry 4.0 (technological resources) are flexibly combined with other types of resources (natural, social, etc.)…”

Value Change, Value Conflict, and Policy Innovation: Understanding the Opposition to the Market-Based Economic Dispatch of Electricity Scheme in India Using the Multiple Streams Framework

“…To enable a systematic study of value change, Van De Poel (2018) Scholars have posited that value change can result in value conflict or value tension. For example, in their study on the effect of digitization on the energy system, Niet et al, (2021) find that emerging values-such as autonomy, balance of power, control over technology, and equity-conflict with 'anchored' or 'institutionalized' values, such as affordability, (cyber)security, privacy, reliability, and sustainability.…”

“…Following the logic of the MSF, value change might increase the likelihood of policy innovation when it enhances the alignment among the streams (Elzen et al, 2011). However, value change might create a value conflict within a stream, for example, leading to contestation in problem framing (De Wildt et al, 2019), policy design specification (Haelg et al, 2020), level playing field for technology (Niet et al, 2021), the emergence of new political parties (Ford & Goodwin, 2014;Marthaler, 2008), adversarial political practices (Engels, 2008;Nevitte, 2000;Wang & You, 2016), or competing coalitions (Meijerink, 2005).…”