Long-term urban microgrid design: Socio-spatial resilience to promote energy democracy

Sadeeb Simon Ottenburger; Ulrich Ufer

doi:10.14512/tatup.7206

Authors

Sadeeb Simon Ottenburger Institute for Thermal Energy Technology and Safety, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe (DE) https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9790-5444 sadeeb.ottenburger@kit.edu
Ulrich Ufer Institute for Technology Assessment and Systems Analysis, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe (DE) https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5462-2903 ulrich.ufer@kit.edu

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14512/tatup.7206

Keywords:

socio-spatial resilience, energy democracy, urban design, microgrids, Otto Neurath

Abstract

This research article argues that long-term considerations for sociotechnical resilience in urban microgrid design should include socio-spatial dimensions and energy democracy as key concepts. Referring to Otto Neurath and ‘Red Vienna’ of the 1920s this article uses historical analogy as a heuristic tool to open up alternatives and self-reflective perspectives for policy considerations. It points to potential negative effects of ‘energy gerrymandering’ on urban energy democracy, i.e. the setting of spatial microgrid boundaries with a bias merely on grounds of economic, or technological efficiency.

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