Transformation to a polycentric grid with distributed energy systems

The energy transition concerns urgent transformation of existing centralized electricity grids into polycentric smart grids to enhance sustainability in resilient electricity supply. As current centralized grids represent vulnerable monocultures, facing increasing challenges from natural disasters, attacks, and climate change, the integration of distributed energy systems (DES) in smart microgrids is essential for renewables’ generation, storage and management. This requires active material participation of end-users in co-production. The importance of distinguishing between decentralization as a move away from centrality and hierarchy, and distributed systems is elaborated. The institutional approach of common pool management (Ostrom) of natural resources proposes multi-layered, adaptive systems of a hybrid, polycentric nature. Polycentricity fosters diversity and adaptive capacity within DES by means of multiple governance centers to operate simultaneously at different levels. The integration of microgrids as nodes in a polycentric structure supports sustainable resource use, ultimately leading to a more resilient and equitable energy landscape.