Inclusive innovation in just transitions: the case of smart local energy systems in the UK

Inclusive innovation addresses the challenges and aspirations of poor and marginalised groups in society. Attention towards these groups is also important for social justice in sustainable transitions. How can research insights from inclusive innovation contribute to just transitions? In this paper, based on original mixed methods data, analysis built around levels of inclusion is applied empirically to the case of smart local energy systems in the UK. Despite innovators acknowledging inclusiveness as significant for their decarbonised, decentralised and digitalised transition goals, inclusion operates currently at low levels owing to the prevalence of a liberal-individualist approach to justice in the electricity regime. Noting efforts (and constraints) in higher-level inclusion in some demonstration projects, we discuss whether and how social-collectivist approaches to justice open up more transformative possibilities. The case illustrates how analysis of relations between justice and inclusion can invite more transformational innovation policies.