A new volume, Are Low-Carbon Futures Decentralised? The Governance of Collective Electricity Systems (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2025), brings together leading international scholars to explore this dilemma.

Edited by Siddharth Sareen, Per Ove Eikeland and Tor Håkon Jackson Inderberg of the Fridtjof Nansen Institute (Norway), the book examines how decentralisation is reshaping electricity infrastructures and governance around the world.

“This book shows that decentralisation is not just a technical issue – it is about who governs our energy future. Local solar panels, smart grids and batteries may transform the system, but whether this happens depends on politics, institutions and vested interests,” says Siddharth Sareen.

Key themes

  • The role of digitalisation and innovation in transforming electricity grids
  • Governance challenges and power shifts in decentralised systems
  • Implications for security, reliability and affordability of supply
  • Comparative insights from diverse international contexts


Relevance for policy and practice

The book argues that understanding decentralisation requires attention to both infrastructure and governance. It provides practical insights for policymakers, regulators and utilities navigating the green transition, highlighting how choices on energy system design affect resilience, affordability and legitimacy.

“The tension between local and centralised solutions is at the heart of this book,” says Per Ove Eikeland.

“The debate is not only about technology. It is also about power, governance and the choices societies make when moving towards low-carbon systems,” adds Tor Håkon Jackson Inderberg.

Book details

Are Low-Carbon Futures Decentralised? The Governance of Collective Electricity Systems
Edited by Siddharth Sareen, Per Ove Eikeland & Tor Håkon Jackson Inderberg
Edward Elgar Publishing, August 2025, 280 pp.
ISBN: 9781035355181