Intertwined renewable and digital transitions: a study on South Australia’s hybridized electricity system

Abstract This paper examines the implications of an energy transition characterized by the widespread adoption of renewable energy sources, distributed energy assets, and digitalization, using South Australia as a central case study. By leveraging and adapting the concept of “Electrical Hybridization” (Verdeil and Jaglin, 2023), we show how South Australia’s ambitious energy policies, which integrate economic growth with decarbonization, are transforming its electricity system. This transformation requires both the reinforcement of the electricity network (reticulation) and the extensive deployment of distributed energy assets (heterogeneity). An additional trend, coordination, is emerging as a crucial element in South Australia, facilitating the control of distributed energy assets through smart interfaces and digital networks. We then analyse the system-wide evolutions driven by the convergence of renewable energy transition and digitalization, detailing the evolving energy governance arrangements and underlining the significant interaction between public bodies and private initiatives in investments and regulatory reforms. Finally, we explore the broader implications of these developments, raising critical questions around decentralization, local empowerment, and participation in the energy transition. We conclude by suggesting that further research is essential to fully understand the complex, intertwined effects of the renewable and digital transitions.