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Abstract
Energy transition is a concept originating from the necessity of solving environmental problems and conflicts in the energy sector. It originates from environmental tradition and advocates transition from environmentally and socially controversial sources of energy to renewables. That also means a shift from large centralized production units (mainly based on fossil and nuclear energy) to smaller, dispersed ones. This decentralization process inherently leads to a democratization of the electricity sector, as large energy companies are losing their power and position in the energy policy arena, as more and more smaller actors emerge. However, when trying to change the electricity system, many obstacles arise - from the economics, old energy paradigm, path dependence, inertia of electricity system, power relations between actors, institutional lock-in, to perceptions and values of the dominant players. All barriers are reflected in the energy policy arena, dominated mainly by large energy companies, reluctant to accept changes. Demands for a change come from non-dominant actors, mainly from civil society actors and others, who are pushed to the margins of the political arena. Therefore, decision-makers should recognize their role, change institutional structure of the energy policy arena, and open it to various actors that can add new qualities to decision-making processes and outputs.
Keywords: energy transition, energy policy arena, policy actors, barriers for change, renewable energy sources, decentralization
Povzetek
Energetska tranzicija je koncept, ki izhaja iz nuje reševanja okoljskih problemov in konfliktov v elektroenergetskem sektorju. Izhaja iz okoljske tradicije ter zagovarja prehod od okoljsko in družbeno spornih virov energije k obnovljivim virom, kar obenem pomeni tudi prehod od velikih centraliziranih proizvodnih enot (večinoma temelječih na fosilni in jedrski energiji) k manjšim, razpršenim proizvodnim enotam. Ta proces decentralizacije inherentno privede do demokratizacije sektorja, saj velika energetska podjetja izgubljajo svojo moč in pozicijo v energetski politični areni, kjer začne nastajati množica manjših akterjev. Pri vpeljevanju koncepta in nujnih sprememb v proizvodni strukturi elektroenergetskega sektorja nastajajo ovire: od ekonomike, prisotnosti stare energetske paradigme, odvisnosti od poti (path-dependence), inercije elektroenergetskega sistema, razmerij moči med akterji in institucionalne ukalupljenosti, pa vse do percepcije in vrednot dominantnih akterjev. Vse ovire se odražajo v energetski politični areni, v kateri dominirajo predvsem velika energetska podjetja, ki si sprememb ne želijo. Zahteve po spremembah prihajajo od nedominantnih akterjev. Zato bi morali...