Table 1 Typology of centralized and decentralized electricity generation

Electricity market

Few large actors

Several smaller actors

Investment capital

Large sums of investment capital are invested in one or a few actors

Large sums of investment capital are divided between several actors on all levels of society (micro-, meso- and macro-level)

Facilities

A few large power plants that require specialists to operate

Several smaller facilities that require generalists to operate

Accountability (centralized/local)

Accountability is centralized

Accountability is decentralized and divided between local, regional and national institutions and actors

Accountability (public/private)

Government and a few large actors

Municipal institutions, neighborhoods and local facilities

Employment

Requires highly qualified specialists; technocratic elite

Requires generalists capable of adapting local energy sources to local needs

Electricity system

Dominates the preconditions for its surroundings and the environment

Is dominated by the preconditions of its surroundings and environment