How Do Governments' Policy Priorities Change as the Energy Transition Progresses? A Cross-Country Comparison

Lana Ollier; Marc Melliger; Florence Metz

doi:10.1080/13876988.2023.2280270

How Do Governments' Policy Priorities Change as the Energy Transition Progresses? A Cross-Country Comparison

J Comp Policy Anal. 2023 Nov 30;26(3-4):251-265. doi: 10.1080/13876988.2023.2280270. eCollection 2024.

Authors

Lana Ollier¹, Marc Melliger¹, Florence Metz²

Affiliations

¹ Research Institute for Sustainability Helmholtz Centre Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany.
² Department of Governance and Technology for Sustainability, University of Twente, Twente, Netherlands.

Abstract

Today's energy transition is marked by two key processes: the maturation of the renewable electricity system, and the declining fit between the new and incumbent electricity systems. Given these processes, how do governments change their policy priorities as the transition progresses? Our comparative analysis of six EU member states shows that governments dynamically adapt their policy priorities based on changes in their socio-technical systems. Our initial findings suggest that governments follow a specific sequence of policy priorities in the energy transition. Results stress how important it is that governments strategically sequence policy instruments for a smooth transition amid changing priorities.

Keywords: EU energy policy; comparative analysis; policy analysis; policy priorities; sequencing; socio-technical transition.

Grants and funding

Lana Ollier and Marc Melliger received funding from the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme [TRIPOD, grant agreement 715132].