• Energy Research

Abstract Microgrids are known to be one of the most effective forms of decentralized energy systems, mainly because of their ability to run independently of the central grid and efficiently integrate a number of distributed energy resources. In terms of a country-wise microgrid market, the United States has the highest capacity share in the world. However, within the country, significant variation exists in the adoption of microgrids by the states. In this context, this paper presents an empirical analysis of the drivers behind high and low microgrid adoption in states across the United States. The results illustrate that the states that frequently experience disasters, and hence have high resilience concerns are more likely to adopt microgrids. On the other hand, higher citizen support for energy choice and pro-environmental attitudes of citizens do not have statistically significant effects on microgrid adoption. By examining the determinants of microgrid adoption in states, this paper provides a basis for understanding the socio-political foundations of the trend of decentralization in the energy system.

Abstract The increasing penetration of microgrids in appears to be part of a transition toward electricity distribution systems that are more decentralized than the current system. With microgrids gaining space as a competing and parallel distribution grid model and challenging the current centralized grid system, studying their adoption presents an opportunity to understand this socio-technical transition in the energy system. This study looks at this ongoing change in the United States and applies the Multi-Level Perspective framework to explore the drivers, contexts, processes, policies, institutions, and interactions that affect the adoption of microgrids. Through a qualitative case study analysis of California, New York, and Oregon, the study finds that natural disasters, massive power outages and climate change concerns have acted as key pressures for the adoption of microgrids. At the same time, the electric power system maintains important stabilization mechanisms, such as the availability of cheap and abundant electricity, as well a market structure that limits the opportunities of entry and profit for third-party developers, which make it harder for niche innovations like microgrids to break in. In addition, this study finds that state support in the form of funding and legislation is crucial for nurturing the microgrid niche market.

Abstract California is a pioneer in energy system innovations, and it is not surprising that the state is leading the nation in the adoption of microgrids. However, the inherent characteristics of microgrids make them challenging to integrate and operate within the current energy system. This is mainly because unlike other decentralized energy systems, microgrids often tend to interact with the centralized grid infrastructure as both a parallel and a competing distribution grid model at the micro scale. The adoption and integration of microgrids, therefore, represents a socio-technical transition in the electric power sector. In this context, this study relies on the Multi-Level Perspective framework to examine the drivers, contexts, processes, and policies that have enabled an ongoing transition in California's electricity system that has allowed adoption of microgrids. The analysis shows that even though several drivers carry weight, including resilience concerns and market factors, California's pathway to microgrids is largely driven by the legislative and regulatory push toward clean energy and a symbiotic relationship between powerful regime actors and a microgrid niche. This is enabling a transformation in the state's energy system, in which the entry of microgrids is subtly facilitated by the regime in a way that does not threaten the current utility-dominated electricity system. By providing a detailed account of how a decentralized energy system that challenges the centralized grid regime has made its place in the centralized grid regime in California, this paper identifies the key facets that affect the integration of microgrids in the broader context of energy transitions.

Assessing global progress on human adaptation to climate change is an urgent priority. Although the literature on adaptation to climate change is rapidly expanding, little is known about the actual extent of implementation. We systematically screened >48,000 articles using machine learning methods and a global network of 126 researchers. Our synthesis of the resulting 1,682 articles presents a systematic and comprehensive global stocktake of implemented human adaptation to climate change. Documented adaptations were largely fragmented, local and incremental, with limited evidence of transformational adaptation and negligible evidence of risk reduction outcomes. We identify eight priorities for global adaptation research: assess the effectiveness of adaptation responses, enhance the understanding of limits to adaptation, enable individuals and civil society to adapt, include missing places, scholars and scholarship, understand private sector responses, improve methods for synthesizing different forms of evidence, assess the adaptation at different temperature thresholds, and improve the inclusion of timescale and the dynamics of 536 responses.