Energy democracy: A digital future?

Academic exploration of energy democracy has produced a rich theorization its foundations that exhibits significant pluralism in response to different geographic, social, ideological and technical contexts. This paper develops the literature by considering how sociotechnical transitions associated with system digitalization may affect theory praxis democracy. Our analysis draws on three dimensions democracy: popular sovereignty, participatory governance, civic ownership. Digitalization is shown both present challenges new avenues for exercise study Firstly, simultaneously enables constrains sovereignty diversifying citizen roles complicating accountability. Secondly, creates risk around skills, knowledge resource access, which can exclude citizens from governance. Thirdly, common conceptions ownership introducing material-software dependencies re-defining assets underpin system. Finally, fundamentally changes nature decision-making, potentially undermining current understandings concept democratic function. Further ‘digital democracy’ would hold value research practice sector.