| dc.description.abstract | The smart grid concept contains technologies and innovations that can improve the sustainability, flexibility and efficiency of the energy system. However, the diffusion of these innovations is slow. Despite a vast literature on the subject, the distribution system operators (DSOs) role within the innovation system has gained little attention. The DSO has a strong position towards consumers in the retail electricity market, being responsible for the operation and management of the electricity grid and the grid tariffs at the distribution level. Their role could, therefore, be understood as a change agent in the diffusion of innovation (DOI) theory. The purpose of this qualitative research is to understand the role of the DSO as a change agent for the diffusion of smart grid-innovations. The future role of the DSO as a change agent in the Norwegian retail electricity system is especially important to study as the Norwegian Water Resource and Energy Directorate (NVE) is currently planning to implement a supplier-centric market model in the retail electricity market. By combining two theoretical perspectives, the systems of innovation (SI) perspective and the DOI theory, this study provides both a systemic macro-perspective and a relational micro-perspective to understand the DSO as a change agent, and the implications of the supplier-centric model. Four smart grid-innovations are investigated empirically in the research: prosumers, demand tariffs, battery storage and energy management systems. The position of the DSO is investigated by combining document analysis and six expert interviews. The findings suggest that the DSO maintains a relevant position as a change agent following the supplier-centric market model. However, their standing weakens due to a reduced communication link to the end users. A reduced communication link has implications for their role as change agents, and especially at the knowledge-stage of the end user’s innovation-decision process. The stage is considered the most crucial stage of the innovation-decision process, and a weakened link reduces the performance of the innovation system and the ability for smart grid-innovations to disperse within the market. Further, to improve their position at the knowledge-stage, the research shows that the DSO needs to strengthen the communication link towards the end users. In addition, to improve the overall situation in the innovation system, greater cooperation between the actors is seen as a solution to strengthen the general diffusion of innovations. The results suggest that the DSO will benefit from progressing into an advisory role towards end users and others actor within the system. | eng |