ABSTRACT
Renewable energy technologies are having a deeply disruptive impact, particularly on electricity markets around the world. 1 This is a moment of remarkable transition from fossil fuel-fired power stations into renewable energy sources of solar and wind power in particular; conventional coal-fired power stations are closing and powering down, and here in Australia we’re embarking on this potential transformation. 2 The electricity industry experienced a similar moment of ‘Electric Ambiguity’ 3 in an earlier ‘fledgling’ era of its development: a moment at which its fate and pathway for the future were contested and decided upon. In the late eighteenth century, a ‘War of Currents’ was fought on the choice between an industry based either on alternating current (AC) or on direct current (DC) with Tesla and Edison as the respective proponents. 4 It was a protracted and vitriolic debate that challenged large, vested interests. But eventually, the ‘ambiguity’ was resolved in the favour of alternating current and the future path of the electricity industry was set…until now.
