{"title":"Policy mixes for net-zero energy transitions: Insights from energy sector integration in Germany","authors":"Sarah Olbrich , Dierk Bauknecht , Philipp Späth","doi":"10.1016/j.erss.2024.103822","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Energy sector integration is one key strategy in the German net-zero energy transition to decarbonise the energy-consuming sectors mobility, heating and industry. Energy sector integration describes connecting power, heat, mobility and industrial processes as well as their infrastructure through either the use of renewable power (direct electrification) or the use of low carbon hydrogen and its derivates (indirect electrification).</div><div>In this contribution, we evaluate the comprehensiveness of the German policy mix for energy sector integration using the policy intervention points framework. To do so, we mapped the policy mix and discussed it with experts in energy policy and energy sector integration.</div><div>We show that next to diffusing low-carbon technologies, taking an overarching system perspective across the sectors and addressing systemic problems in the emerging system are major challenges. Furthermore, the policy mix should be better coordinated as, due to the current sectoral silo thinking, it is often unclear how sectoral and energy carrier-specific policy elements relate to each other. As well, mistrust in the credibility of the policy mix leads to uncertainty, fear of sunk investments and planning insecurity.</div><div>Based on the empirical analysis, we propose to add system building as additional policy intervention point. System building aims to take an overarching system perspective on the new and contested system configuration, which allows to coordinate transition processes with regard to a systemic goal like the net-zero goal and to identify and address systemic problems that emerge during the transition.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48384,"journal":{"name":"Energy Research & Social Science","volume":"118 ","pages":"Article 103822"},"PeriodicalIF":6.9000,"publicationDate":"2024-10-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Energy Research & Social Science","FirstCategoryId":"96","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214629624004134","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Energy sector integration is one key strategy in the German net-zero energy transition to decarbonise the energy-consuming sectors mobility, heating and industry. Energy sector integration describes connecting power, heat, mobility and industrial processes as well as their infrastructure through either the use of renewable power (direct electrification) or the use of low carbon hydrogen and its derivates (indirect electrification).
In this contribution, we evaluate the comprehensiveness of the German policy mix for energy sector integration using the policy intervention points framework. To do so, we mapped the policy mix and discussed it with experts in energy policy and energy sector integration.
We show that next to diffusing low-carbon technologies, taking an overarching system perspective across the sectors and addressing systemic problems in the emerging system are major challenges. Furthermore, the policy mix should be better coordinated as, due to the current sectoral silo thinking, it is often unclear how sectoral and energy carrier-specific policy elements relate to each other. As well, mistrust in the credibility of the policy mix leads to uncertainty, fear of sunk investments and planning insecurity.
Based on the empirical analysis, we propose to add system building as additional policy intervention point. System building aims to take an overarching system perspective on the new and contested system configuration, which allows to coordinate transition processes with regard to a systemic goal like the net-zero goal and to identify and address systemic problems that emerge during the transition.
期刊介绍:
Energy Research & Social Science (ERSS) is a peer-reviewed international journal that publishes original research and review articles examining the relationship between energy systems and society. ERSS covers a range of topics revolving around the intersection of energy technologies, fuels, and resources on one side and social processes and influences - including communities of energy users, people affected by energy production, social institutions, customs, traditions, behaviors, and policies - on the other. Put another way, ERSS investigates the social system surrounding energy technology and hardware. ERSS is relevant for energy practitioners, researchers interested in the social aspects of energy production or use, and policymakers.
Energy Research & Social Science (ERSS) provides an interdisciplinary forum to discuss how social and technical issues related to energy production and consumption interact. Energy production, distribution, and consumption all have both technical and human components, and the latter involves the human causes and consequences of energy-related activities and processes as well as social structures that shape how people interact with energy systems. Energy analysis, therefore, needs to look beyond the dimensions of technology and economics to include these social and human elements.