Energy and complexity: New ways forward

Catherine S.E. Bale, Liz Varga and Timothy Foxon

Applied Energy, 2015, vol. 138, issue C, 150-159

Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to review the application of complexity science methods in understanding energy systems and system change. The challenge of moving to sustainable energy systems which provide secure, affordable and low-carbon energy services requires the application of methods which recognise the complexity of energy systems in relation to social, technological, economic and environmental aspects. Energy systems consist of many actors, interacting through networks, leading to emergent properties and adaptive and learning processes. Insights on these type of phenomena have been investigated in other contexts by complex systems theory. However, these insights are only recently beginning to be applied to understanding energy systems and systems transitions.

Keywords: Complexity science; Energy systems; Modelling; Complex adaptive systems; Agent-based modelling; Energy policy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (75)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:appene:v:138:y:2015:i:c:p:150-159

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DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2014.10.057

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