Transformative disruptiveness or transition? Revealing digitalization and deep decarbonization pathways in the Italian smart electricity meter roll-out

Energy infrastructure digitalization is proposed as key for a just deep decarbonization. However, an integrative literature review reveals the lack of a more profound exploration on normative considerations tied to world perspectives and values, as levers of a lasting transformation in the context of socio-technical transitions. Thus, the paper employs qualitative research methods to investigate how energy infrastructure digitalization contributes to transformative disruption, along which deliberated deep decarbonization pathways, using Italy's smart electricity meter roll-out as a case study. While the roll-out represents a substantial effort in introducing digital devices into the residential sector, concerns persist about its effectiveness, also due to potential societal disruptions. Through in-depth interviews with experts (N = 17) and citizens (N = 23) and content-oriented analysis, the research unveils evolving pathways between ever more disengaged two grand narratives and value systems: energy as a commodity and energy as a common good. It argues for further research into discourse coalitions capitalizing on defined narratives, to better understand their impact on policy-making processes.

GANTIOLER Sonja;  BALEST Jessica;  TOMASI Silvia;  VOLTOLINI Federico;  DELLA VALLE Nives; 

2023-10-19

ELSEVIER LIMITED

JRC130926

2214-6296 (online),   

www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214629623003699,    https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC130926,   

10.1016/j.erss.2023.103309 (online),