Transition tensions: transmission lines in visions of European Union decentralisation

Daniel Wuebben

Chapter 4 in Are Low-Carbon Futures Decentralised?, 2025, pp 50-60 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: This chapter explores the role of transmission infrastructure in Europe's ongoing transition towards low-carbon, decentralised energy systems. While policy documents often advocate for decentralisation, they also highlight the continued necessity of transmission networks for system efficiency and stability. This chapter argues that the ambiguous role of transmission in energy futures reflects broader tensions between centralised and decentralised visions and approaches to decarbonisation. The argument is supported by a discourse analysis of recent transmission reports and policy documents, and supplemented by recent research on transmission's broader social impacts. The analysis shows how select actors perceive a balance between integrating decentralised energy sources with robust, centrally coordinated transmission networks. Nevertheless, the siting and construction of long-distance transmission lines continue to clash with local demands for democratised and decentralised energy solutions.

Keywords: Decentralisation; Transmission Infrastructure; Electricity Grid; Energy Transition; Energy Planning; Public Engagement (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
ISBN: 9781035355181
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.elgaronline.com/doi/10.4337/9781035355198.00010 (application/pdf)
Our link check indicates that this URL is bad, the error code is: 403 Forbidden

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:elg:eechap:24265_4

Ordering information: This item can be ordered from
http://www.e-elgar.com

Access Statistics for this chapter

More chapters in Chapters from Edward Elgar Publishing
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Jack Sweeney ().