Wiring Power : Empowering Energy Democracy and New Actor Roles in the Smart Electric Grid

The global energy transition is not merely a technological shift toward renewable energy but also a transformation of power structures, agency, and governance. As nations and cities implement sustainable energy solutions, both traditional energy actors and new entrants are reshaping participation in the energy sector. Within this evolving context, the smart grid emerges as an arena where these dynamics unfold.This thesis examines five local smart electricity grid cases in Sweden, including two urban smart grid projects, two energy community initiatives, and a local flexibility market demonstration project. Using qualitative methods, including participant observation, interviews, document analysis, and literature reviews, the study provides an in-depth exploration of the barriers and drivers encountered by professional actors in local smart grid development. The analysis reveals several barriers for professionals working with smart grid development, such as regulatory constraints, financial uncertainties, and role conflicts. Key enabling factors, on the other hand, include municipal leadership, organizational champions, aggregator support, the acknowledgment of timing, and windows of opportunity in the energy planning processes. The role of a missing stakeholder group—the citizens—is also discussed, as is how the stakeholders' different interpretations of "smart grids" can lead to different project outcomes.