The socio-technical regime networks associated with the implementation of direct current (DC) electricity in the built environment

Kinn, Moshe ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2641-4837 and Abbott, Carl (2013) The socio-technical regime networks associated with the implementation of direct current (DC) electricity in the built environment. In: International Postgraduate Research Conference 2013, 8 April 2013 - 10 April 2013, University of Salford, United Kingdom.

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Abstract

The use of direct current voltage in the built environment has a number of potential advantages. However, implementing DC voltage is not just a technical challenge; there are also many human interactions with the technical system that will be affected by such a change. This paper seeks to show how socio-technical systems theory can be used to characterise the different elements that affect the implementation of DC in the built environment. By presenting an initial mapping of the socio-technical system around electricity supply for the built environment, this paper identifies the actors, networks and institutions, and associated rules and regulations that constitute the regime networks that are associated with the electrical system in the UK. It has shown that some actors can function in more than one regime network and presents some of the interrelationships between the different network actors, all in a framework of increasing influence on the decision making process to implement DC voltage electricity