Institutionelle Dynamiken und (ungenutzte) Potenziale im Markt für Heimstromspeicher in Deutschland

Abstract

The market for stationary home battery storage systems in Germany is currently displaying dynamic growth, characterized by fast technological advancements, rapidly rising sales, as well as organizational innovations that bear the potential to fundamentally revolutionize the energy market. In particular, opportunities are opening up for decentralized energy communities, in which mostly privately owned, decentralized photovoltaic power plants are combined with battery storage systems by means of digital technology to form large virtual power plants, and thus self-produced solar power can be shared among their members without the established energy utility companies. However, as explained in more detail in the article with reference to the concept of the layering of policies, a large part of this potential remains untapped, most notably because of institutional aspects and political (conflicts of) interest(s). The article presents original empirical findings, mainly from problem-centred interviews and participant observations. On a conceptual level, the findings presented deepen our knowledge of the role of institutional dynamics at various geographical scales in general, and of the (delayed) establishment of sustainability innovations in particular.