Unravelling the relationship between digitalisation and sustainable energy transitions using socio-technical-ecological scripts

Abstract

Sustainable energy transitions are closely intertwined with digitalisation processes. In this paper, we analyse how the development and implementation of digital technologies are deeply embedded in socio-technical-ecological configurations of sustainable energy transitions and consequently reflect these configurations. We contribute to the emerging body of literature that investigates the complex relationship between digitalisation and sustainability transitions, often framed as "twin transitions". We develop a conceptual framework that combines the interplay of actors, institutions, technologies and ecological boundaries as core analytical dimensions in transition studies with the concept of scripts from Science and Technology Studies. Scripts allow us to investigate how actor constellations, institutional settings as well as technological and ecological requirements are in-scribed into a digital technology and de-scribed – i.e., interpreted and put into action – by a variety of actors. In this way, we analyse how and which configurations of ongoing transitions are manifested in the technological script. This offers an approach to better understand and reflect on whether and how digital technologies may unfold their often anticipated transformational capacity in transition processes. We illustrate the applicability of our framework with insights from a case study on digital technologies to be installed at onshore wind power plants to detect avian species and curtail turbines when protected birds are at risk of collision.