Тема: Organisational and Institutional Barriers for Diffusion of Smart Grid Solutions in the Emerging Economies

With a rapid development of new technological solutions for safe and efficient power distribution, it has become evident that there is a clear need in rethinking current and shaping new business models and implementation tools, which will help both incumbents and newcomers of the power grid industry to commercialise new technological solutions in order to provide value for both shareholders and every other stakeholder of the industry.
Specifically, digital technologies are penetrating every sphere of the energy industry and power grid industry as a part of it. Successful diffusion of ICT (information and communication technologies) to the electrical grid has potential to improve the quality, reliability and efficiency of electricity supply and to manage demand and reduce stress on the system [1].
This is particularly important, as nowadays, we witness a sharply increasing demand for power, which is accompanied with a seemingly contradictory trend: depletion of the fossil fuels, still widely used for electricity production [2] [3].
Producers in the traditional grid rely heavily on fossil fuels for power generation, thus providing society with unsustainable energy. Traditional centralised systems of power generation and obsolete technology drive power delivery costs rise, also burdening the network with inflexibility, which makes the grid unable to handle increased variation of energy sources and new consumption patterns among consumers. Moreover, in the traditional centralised systems installation, transmission, and distribution of power are exceedingly expensive in distant areas, making an economic incentive for a change. As a result, development of alternative ways for power generation and transmission is necessary to resolve aforementioned complex issues. [4]
Partly, Smart Grid appears to be the solution that could resolve some of the problems mentioned, however, the technology adoption has been troubling incumbent power grid companies for years. Technological solutions encompassed in Smart Grid concept increase complexity and interconnectedness of the network, thus, assuming renovated approaches to management of the grid.
Moreover, for successful implementation the technology creates a brand new dynamic in the value chain, thus implying rethinking utility firm business models, so the company can create additional value for its customers.
Smart Grid is widely considered to be a disruptive innovation for the energy sector, which has a potential to revolutionise the industry [5]. However, there are severe difficulties in integration and diffusion of the Smart Grid technologies into power grid companies' value chain. Mainly, they transform to organisational challenges involving issues about investment, operations and pricing, which also hinge heavily on policy and regulations.
Another aspect that is going to be addressed in this thesis is that as some elements of the Smart Grid are evolving and actively researched in OECD countries and other developed economies, Emerging Economies might lack access to the relevant innovation, expertise, investment and regulatory incentives to drive the technology forward and renovate existing power grid infrastructure.
Moreover, Emerging Economies possess unique institutional specifics, which directly influences the conditions for Smart Grid effective deployment. This issue also dictates the necessity of a continued research, as there is a significant lack of studies investigating barriers and constraints to Smart Grid adoption in Emerging Economies in a holistic manner, employing different institutional and organisational frameworks.
Thus, this thesis conducts a comprehensive study of the main challenges and barriers, constraining adoption and development of Smart Grids technology by power grid companies with the focus on the Emerging Economies, providing an in-depth understanding of the issue.
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It has been underlined throughout this research that Smart Grid adoption in Emerging Economies is a highly dynamic and constantly evolving field of study, offering great opportunities for future research.
Based on this study and on the Adapted TOE Framework in particular, it is possible to perform investigations of Smart Grid adoption in specific countries possessing characteristics of an Emerging Economy. Taking into account state specifics in the set of its own barriers, economic characteristics and market configuration, future research could embrace this study and develop tailored Smart Grid adoption strategies.
Another direction of future research is testing the barriers identified via quantitative techniques, providing a statistical model with a potential for generalisation. This direction would provide a broader understanding of the prevalence and impact of these barriers across different Emerging Economies, allowing for comparisons and benchmarking.
Overall, this study evolves as a good starting point for both generalisation and case-studies in the field of Smart Grid adoption, providing the guidelines both in theory and practice and being open to adaptations and utilisations by the future research.
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