Journal article ยท Ahead of Print article
Linking the energy transition and economic development: A framework for analysis of energy transitions in the global South
Stellenbosch University1
Wind Energy Systems Division, Department of Wind and Energy Systems, Technical University of Denmark2
Society, Market and Policy, Wind Energy Systems Division, Department of Wind and Energy Systems, Technical University of Denmark3
Department of Wind and Energy Systems, Technical University of Denmark4
University of Cape Town5
Danish Institute for International Studies6
Department of Technology, Management and Economics, Technical University of Denmark7
Energy Economics and Modelling, Sustainability, Society and Economics, Department of Technology, Management and Economics, Technical University of Denmark8
We are observing a significant increase in the deployment of large scale solar and wind technologies in the global south, and it is therefore a strategically and academically important focus of inquiry to understand context-specific spaces for locally-embedded actors to initiate energy transitions. This paper examines the linkages between the energy transition and economic development, and has attempted to do this by developing an approach that brought into focus the institutional micro-economics of four key dimensions of the economic development process, namely (a) the impact of the auction mechanism; (b) the key role MNCs play in the global value chain; (c) how developmentally-oriented states have attempted to harness the resulting investment flows by using LCRs; and (d) the local-level development impacts of utility-scale renewable energy power plants on local communities.
Drawing from the South African energy transition as a case we argue that the complex interaction between highly globalized value chain actors, path dependent local institutions and interests of incumbent local actors sheds new light on the dynamics of rapid institutional change during energy transitions in a global South context.
We use the South African case to develop a framework for analysing the energy transition in the global south that brings into relief the complex dynamics of change, learning and experimentation. Our focus is on the way rule-setting and the actions of actors within institutions (dis-)enables financial flows, institutional change and socio-technical adaptation in a fast-changing environment driven by responses to climate change and the challenge of rapid decarbonisation.
Language: | English |
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Year: | 2022 |
Pages: | 102567 |
ISSN: | 22146326 and 22146296 |
Types: | Journal article and Ahead of Print article |
DOI: | 10.1016/j.erss.2022.102567 |
ORCIDs: | Nygaard, Ivan , Hansen, Ulrich Elmer , Olsen, Karen Holm , Davy, Elder , Kitzing, Lena , Khan, Bilal Siddique and Cronin, Tom |