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Integrating techno-economic, socio-technical and political perspectives on national energy transitions : A meta-theoretical framework
Title / Series / Name
Publication Volume
Publication Issue
Pages
Editors
Keywords
Co-evolution
Energy transitions
Meta-theoretical framework
Variables
Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
Nuclear Energy and Engineering
Fuel Technology
Energy Engineering and Power Technology
Social Sciences (miscellaneous)
SDG 7 - Affordable and Clean Energy
SDG 8 - Decent Work and Economic Growth
Energy transitions
Meta-theoretical framework
Variables
Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
Nuclear Energy and Engineering
Fuel Technology
Energy Engineering and Power Technology
Social Sciences (miscellaneous)
SDG 7 - Affordable and Clean Energy
SDG 8 - Decent Work and Economic Growth
URI
https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14018/27082
Abstract
Economic development, technological innovation, and policy change are especially prominent factors shaping energy transitions. Therefore explaining energy transitions requires combining insights from disciplines investigating these factors. The existing literature is not consistent in identifying these disciplines nor proposing how they can be combined. We conceptualize national energy transitions as a co-evolution of three types of systems: energy flows and markets, energy technologies, and energy-related policies. The focus on the three types of systems gives rise to three perspectives on national energy transitions: techno-economic with its roots in energy systems analysis and various domains of economics; socio-technical with its roots in sociology of technology, STS, and evolutionary economics; and political with its roots in political science. We use the three perspectives as an organizing principle to propose a meta-theoretical framework for analyzing national energy transitions. Following Elinor Ostrom's approach, the proposed framework explains national energy transitions through a nested conceptual map of variables and theories. In comparison with the existing meta-theoretical literature, the three perspectives framework elevates the role of political science since policies are likely to be increasingly prominent in shaping 21st century energy transitions.
Topic
Publisher
Place of Publication
Type
Journal article
Date
2018-03
Language
ISBN
Identifiers
10.1016/j.erss.2017.09.015