PhD defence: Institutions and the Energy Transition — On understanding the decarbonisation of European countries
Through an analysis of the political-economic systems in several European countries, the dissertation explores why the energy transition in some countries is proceeding slower or faster than one would expect based on national resources. The United Kingdom and Germany were both equally dependent on coal for electricity in 1990; however, the UK closed its last coal-fired power plant in 2024, while Germany now aims for 2038. The UK, thanks to its vast, shallow coastline, had the most opportunities for offshore wind power in 1990, but the pioneer in this field was the much smaller Denmark. How can we explain this? Furthermore, the role of energy cooperatives has been crucial to the energy transition since the late 1970s, but that role appears to have declined from 2016-2018. Why? The dissertation provides a coherent answer to these questions based on the institutions of countries, the national informal constraints (sanctions, taboos, customs, traditions, and codes of conduct), and formal rules (constitutions, laws, property rights). By linking these institutions to how countries deal with carbon lock-in (being stuck in fossil systems) and to the life cycle of technology, the thesis provides a consistent explanation.
- Start date and time
- End date and time
- Location
- PhD candidate
- Gerrit Rentier
- Dissertation
- Institutions and the Energy Transition — On understanding the decarbonisation of European countries
- PhD supervisor(s)
- prof. dr. G.J. Kramer
- Co-supervisor(s)
- dr. H. Lelieveldt