Framing Commons for Society-Technology for Electric Infrastructure Supply Systems

Abstract

This work discusses the dosage of technological systems for infrastructure arrangements and how the concept of commons-based prosumption could be integrated into energy systems and associated transition processes and agency from the bottom up. We span up conceptual tensions across the range of individual and collective interests, namely along the lines of sovereignty and solidarity. To highlight caveats for the use of technologies across different subsections of  human  societies we suggest ecosystem theory as an extension to other  frameworks. We  apply  those  insights  to a framing of commons at the interface between technology and society for the socio-technical system of distributed electric energy provisioning. The energy co-prosumer, a fictive character, who would be an agent to help build the common pool resources logic for society-technology is presented. We show that technology as a tool can enable and assist to achieve transformational change and introduce the commons-based co-prosumer instead of the individual-based prosumer. These concepts help discern role, rule and control systems for operational as well as system design aspects of sustainable energy transitions and how these can fit together to mould transformational changes from a systems perspective