Energy Justice and Innovation: Responsibility of the State?

The paper focuses on the intersection of energy justice and innovation. The purpose is to demonstrate the responsibility of the state to ensure innovation and the adoption of newer energy technologies. Deployment of energy technologies and solutions is required to provide adequate and climate friendly energy services. Three questions will be asked that will guide the content of this paper: 1) Do state institutions prioritize short-term affordability over technological renewal? 2) How well do state institutions usher in and out technologies from the energy system (e.g. through systematic or erratic policies and incentives)? 3) How developed is the financial landscape and how diverse are (dis)incentives for new technologies? The chapter will also consider the clash between incumbent/challengers which is centered in historical institutional and socio-political relationships. These influence a challenger technology deployment and support by state institutions, companies and society. Merging the delivery of energy justice with the innovation activities of the state moves beyond a neoliberal ‘regulatory state’ where equitable energy systems are overseen by energy regulators. Rather, the responsibility of the state has grown to encompass the protection and rejuvenation of energy technologies. As economic activities grow and the energy inputs to economic growth excel, state action must also focus on innovation of new energy technologies to reduce the environmental impact (environmental justice) while increasing access to sustainable sources of affordable energy services (energy justice). Renewable energy technologies and carbon reducing technologies, for the benefit of humanity and the environment, are now an integral part of current and future energy systems.