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Short abstract:

Energy storage systems are seen as critical to meeting international decarbonisation policies. However, the social and spatial engagement with the artefact is understudied are requires attention. The paper provides a thematic review of literature on other energy infrastructures using an STS lens.

Long abstract:

Energy storage systems, in particular battery systems (BESS) are seen as paramount to meeting decarbonisation agendas in the UK and internationally. However, ways of planning, consultation, and delivery shape both residents and decision-makers’ perceptions of social and spatial implications remain unknown and understudied. The purpose of this paper is to review literature on the social and spatial implications of energy infrastructures, paying close attention to pre- and post-delivery processes as experienced by both decision-makers and residents. The literature review draws on an STS lens and semi-systematic approach to examine ways studies have engaged with the dynamic relationship between energy infrastructure artefacts, delivery processes and communities proximal to the installations. The review included a total of 142 papers. Overall, the review found that the socio-material role of the energy infrastructure artefact shifted from being part of a global need to meet decarbonisation targets at the pre-delivery stages to one of local socio, economic and material impact post-delivery. The shifting of role of energy infrastructures from one of global need and imagined material features to one of local impact and situated physical properties offers new insights on energy transitions research. First, it suggests greater need to study shifting scales of understanding the impacts these infrastructures have on local communities, from both global to local need and impact. Second, it indicates that a finer grain understanding of social and spatial implications of energy infrastructures could contribute to an increased command of the values and roles energy infrastructures are attributed in the energy transition.