Urban energy systems in India :

Abstract

The fossil fuel-based energy systems require accelerated transitioning towards renewable energy provisions in order to reduce carbon emissions. Urban energy systems are commonly called sociotechnological systems, that have interconnections with the political, environmental, and economic landscape of the urban areas. These inter-sectoral linkages, the constant evolution of stakeholder's priorities and relationships, and their conflicting objectives in the urban energy landscape make urban energy systems a complex system. Asserting the need to comprehend the challenges of transitioning towards sustainable energy systems, it appears desirable to view urban energy systems as complex systems. Based on recent literature on urban energy systems and complex systems thinking, the paper initially discusses the characteristics of urban energy systems. It aims to demonstrate the relationship of urban energy systems with social, technological, environmental, political, and economic aspects of urban areas. It further emphasizes the need and the approaches to recognise urban energy systems as complex systems due to the presence of factors, such as multiple stakeholders, the interconnectedness of the agents, changing dynamics, and adaptive processes in the systems. This paper takes the case study of the city setting of Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, and considers its urban Solar City Master Plan to better understand the essence of complex energy systems. Against this background, the aim of the paper is to understand the application of complexity economics and systems thinking to the transition of urban energy systems from fossil fuels to renewables. In addition, the paper intends to explore how examining the urban energy systems through the lens of complexity economics and systems thinking can be valuable in formulating policy interventions towards sustainable urban energy transitions.