The Sound of a New Discipline Being Born: Macro-Energy Systems
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INVITED COMMENTARY
The Sound of a New Discipline Being Born: Macro-Energy Systems Eric Hittinger 1,2 Accepted: 20 October 2020 # Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
Abstract Note: This data is mandatory. Please provide. Keywords Discipline . Energy systems . Interdisciplinary . Macro-Energy Systems . Systems modeling
In 2019, a small group of energy system researchers wrote an article in the journal Joule proposing the creation of a new discipline: macro-energy systems [1]. This was followed by a workshop in September 2020 that gathered a variety of energy systems researchers to discuss the potential and difficulties that go along with creation of a new discipline.1 The bounds of this field are still a bit vague, but the Joule article offers the following definition: “The aim of macro-energy systems is to understand the dynamics, benefits, costs, and impacts of largescale energy systems and energy system transitions.” For those whose work falls nicely under that definition, this potential change is welcome. But the development of a new field of study faces challenges and obstacles. Even with a cadre of passionate supporters, it is pretty difficult to will a new discipline into existence. Realistically, we should not attempt to “create” a new field of study. Instead, the task is to identify the discipline that is right there, under our noses, and then delineate a community of methods, researchers, and ideas that already exists. From this perspective, the macro-energy systems concept is on a solid ground. The community it seeks to form already exists, often lurking in the corners of conferences about energy technologies, policies, or economics. This community already has a recognizable set of basic tools—energy systems models, materials stock and 1
For disclosure: while I was not a co-author of the paper, I did participate in the workshop.
* Eric Hittinger [email protected] 1
University of Lille, Arts et Métiers Institute of Technology, Centrale Lille, Yncrea Hauts-de-France , ULR 2697 – L2EP, F-59000 Lille, France
2
Department of Public Policy, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY 14623, USA
flow, learning curves, emissions impact models—but officially occupies a variety of disciplines, with researchers housed in engineering colleges, policy schools, or generalized energy institutes. Thus, the initiative can be successful if it can convince these researchers that it is worth the effort to define and delineate a new field rather than continue to work at the edges of existing disciplines. In the Joule article, the authors appreciate this idea that the community already exists, but describe macro-energy systems as splitting away from the general discipline of sustainable energy systems. They offer historical examples of similar splits, such as biology partitioning itself into molecular biology, cell biology, ecology, and other disciplines. However, “split” may not be the ideal way to think about macroenergy systems. This emerging field will seek to attract methods and ideas from both social and physic
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