Energy Transition Policies and their Dynamics

Abstract

Despite their increasing cost competitiveness, the continued expansion of renewable energy remains dependent on policy support. Without government intervention, market rules and existing grid infrastructure typically still favor investments in large-scale fossil-based power plants over smaller-scale, fluctuating renewable energy installations. Moreover, the dismantling of renewable energy policies in a number of former pioneer countries indicates that continued policy support is not a foregone conclusion. Against this background, this panel discusses energy transition policies and their interactions with the broader policy field. It explores the role of feedbacks effects and sequencing in determining the effectiveness and durability of such policies in driving a transition toward renewable energy.