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The unhinged paradox – what does it mean for the energy system?

Thollander, Patrik and Palm, Jenny LU (2023) In Advances in Applied Energy 10.
Abstract
In man-made energy systems like the electricity system, new concepts have the potential to influence and shape the development of the system. Sometimes the influence leads to a positive development and in other cases the new concept may lead into disadvantageous pathways. In this paper we argue that when a new concept is introduced, it may give rise to an unhinged paradox. An unhinged paradox implies that introducing a new concept, such as a new governance or management model, might lead to unintended consequences where some parts or the whole system become more unstable, or less resilient or unhinged. The transition of energy systems includes many “wicked” problems, i.e., aspects that are difficult to foresee the outcome of. The need for... (More)
In man-made energy systems like the electricity system, new concepts have the potential to influence and shape the development of the system. Sometimes the influence leads to a positive development and in other cases the new concept may lead into disadvantageous pathways. In this paper we argue that when a new concept is introduced, it may give rise to an unhinged paradox. An unhinged paradox implies that introducing a new concept, such as a new governance or management model, might lead to unintended consequences where some parts or the whole system become more unstable, or less resilient or unhinged. The transition of energy systems includes many “wicked” problems, i.e., aspects that are difficult to foresee the outcome of. The need for a rapid transition with an urgent need to implement new concepts together with a lack of or delayed feedback loops may give rise to wicked problems and unhinged systems. This unhinged paradox is likely to be found even beyond the scope of energy systems and will be further discussed in this paper in relation energy management, the
EU deregulation of the electricity market, energy policy programs and
energy flexibility. (Less)
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organization
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type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
energy transition, energy management, resilient energy systems, wicked problems, unhinged paradox
in
Advances in Applied Energy
volume
10
article number
100143
pages
4 pages
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • scopus:85159639183
ISSN
2666-7924
DOI
10.1016/j.adapen.2023.100143
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
ebea36ab-d7af-489f-9cc3-65312040b8fe
date added to LUP
2023-05-21 12:09:21
date last changed
2023-06-28 04:01:13
@article{ebea36ab-d7af-489f-9cc3-65312040b8fe,
  abstract     = {{In man-made energy systems like the electricity system, new concepts have the potential to influence and shape the development of the system. Sometimes the influence leads to a positive development and in other cases the new concept may lead into disadvantageous pathways. In this paper we argue that when a new concept is introduced, it may give rise to an unhinged paradox. An unhinged paradox implies that introducing a new concept, such as a new governance or management model, might lead to unintended consequences where some parts or the whole system become more unstable, or less resilient or unhinged. The transition of energy systems includes many “wicked” problems, i.e., aspects that are difficult to foresee the outcome of. The need for a rapid transition with an urgent need to implement new concepts together with a lack of or delayed feedback loops may give rise to wicked problems and unhinged systems. This unhinged paradox is likely to be found even beyond the scope of energy systems and will be further discussed in this paper in relation energy management, the <br/>EU deregulation of the electricity market, energy policy programs and <br/>energy flexibility.}},
  author       = {{Thollander, Patrik and Palm, Jenny}},
  issn         = {{2666-7924}},
  keywords     = {{energy transition; energy management; resilient energy systems; wicked problems; unhinged paradox}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{05}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Advances in Applied Energy}},
  title        = {{The unhinged paradox – what does it mean for the energy system?}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/147058610/Tholland_and_Palm_2023_Unhinged.pdf}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.adapen.2023.100143}},
  volume       = {{10}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}