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Integrating techno-economic, socio-technical and political perspectives on national energy transitions: A meta-theoretical framework

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posted on 2023-06-09, 08:05 authored by Aleh Cherp, Vadim Vinichenko, Jessica Jewell, Elina Brutschin, Benjamin SovacoolBenjamin Sovacool
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.

History

Publication status

  • Published

File Version

  • Published version

Journal

Energy Research & Social Science

ISSN

2214-6296

Publisher

Elsevier

Volume

37

Page range

175-190

Department affiliated with

  • SPRU - Science Policy Research Unit Publications

Full text available

  • Yes

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2017-09-25

First Open Access (FOA) Date

2018-01-19

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2017-09-25

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