Data-center infrastructure and energy gentrification: perspectives from Sweden

Journal article, 2021

Which societal functions should be prioritized when the electricity grid reaches its maximum capacity? By using Sweden as an example, this policy brief discusses the societal negotiations that arise around capacity deficits of the electricity grid. By introducing the term energy gentrification, we aim to highlight the potential dangers of failing to recognize that energy also constitutes a societal resource, and like any other resource of the built environment, it is exposed to the risk of exploitation if left unprotected. We propose energy gentrification as an analytical perspective, through which negotiations and potential conflicts can be studied when grid owners must prioritize who should be connected to the grid. In relation to previous research on gentrification, we identify several parallels to the Swedish case of data centers, such as the relative prioritization of global versus local capital, the competition over resources, the allusion to promises of job opportunities and regional development for justification, and the tradeoffs between common goods versus private interests. The perspective of energy gentrification offers a useful approach for inquiring into the ethical dimensions of energy policies and for highlighting the bureaucratic nature of energy policy decision-making. The policy brief concludes by proposing opportunities for future research.