Behavioral, organisational, governance and ethical aspects

Innovative energy technologies not autonomously match economic routines and habits in society. Very often the behavioural, organisational or governance aspects are critical for successful implementation of technological innovations.
Therefore scientists from the various technical and social science disciplines work together on technological breakthroughs and their successful implementation.

In Energy from Biomass for instance, the conversion and application technologies raise new challenges with respect to organisation and governance of supply chains and logistics. For farmers, as conventional producers of bio-resources and managers of the natural environment, bioenergy provides new business perspectives, which requires the design, development and testing of new business models. Energy companies need to develop new alliances with new partners in the energy chain. Biomass is not always accessible because there are many landowners involved. Innovative supply chain management is needed to organise such a diversity of interests effectively.

In ICT & Smart Grids the social science challenge of the technological innovations in particular addresses the participation and involvement of the energy consumers, especially households. For them energy consumption is part of daily routines and therefore, they need to learn to adapt to the new smart technologies which requires effective information and communication. Smart grids enable peer-to peer supply of electricity in neighbourhoods, without intervention of distribution companies. This requires innovative ways to organise communities and to manage the financial flows involved. Smart grids also require smart regimes, new regulative regimes able to deal legally with the increasing diversity in the energy system.

Changing the mind sets in the economy, developing new organisational models and designing governance of the necessary transitions is part of the social science challenge of innovation for green energy.  The ethical philosophical analysis is to contribute to a better role of technology in society, for instance by stimulating better research and design practices, better policies, and better public debates about technology.