Rethinking energy democracy with greater focus on social inclusion

Abstract

The concept of energy democracy has become a prominent concept for analyzing political power shifts in the energy sector. While conceptualizations of energy democracy often incorporate ideas about social inclusion, inclusion is rarely defined and problematized in these conceptualizations. Limited discussion of what inclusion may mean in energy democracy literature can have a direct effect on how inclusion is operationalized in empirical investigations of energy democracy. The paper first argues that it is crucial to explicitly discuss what ideas of inclusion are embedded in conceptualizations of energy democracy. It then suggests that social inclusion can be operationalized as formal and internal inclusion in energy democracy research, following the theory of deliberative democracy developed by Iris Marion Young. It is also recognized that are other ways for conceptualizing inclusion in energy democracy. The case of empowerment of users in smart grids is discussed to illustrate the usefulness of the focus on two levels of inclusion in empirical studies of energy democracy.