The browser you are using is not supported by this website. All versions of Internet Explorer are no longer supported, either by us or Microsoft (read more here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/windows/end-of-ie-support).

Please use a modern browser to fully experience our website, such as the newest versions of Edge, Chrome, Firefox or Safari etc.

Roger Hildingsson, photo.

Roger Hildingsson

Researcher

Roger Hildingsson, photo.

The missing link: bringing institutions and politics into energy future studies

Author

  • Måns Nilsson
  • Lars J Nilsson
  • Roger Hildingsson
  • Johannes Stripple
  • Per Ove Eikeland

Summary, in English

Abstract in Undetermined
Energy future studies can be a useful tool for learning about how to induce and manage technical, economic and policy change related to energy supply and use. The private sector has successfully deployed them for strategic planning, examining key parameters such as markets, competition and consumer trends. However in public policy, most energy future studies remain disconnected from policy making. One reason is that they often ignore the key political and institutional factors that underpin much of the anticipated, wished-for or otherwise explored energy systems developments. Still, we know that institutions and politics are critical enablers or constraints to technical and policy change. This paper examines how analytical insights into political and institutional dynamics can enhance energy future studies. It develops an approach that combines systems-technical change scenarios with political and institutional analysis. Using the example of a backcasting study dealing with the long term low-carbon transformation of a national energy system, it applies two levels of institutional and political analysis; at the level of international regimes and at the level of sectoral policy, and examines how future systems changes and policy paths are conditioned by institutional change processes. It finds that the systematic application of these variables significantly enhances and renders more useful backcasting studies of energy futures. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Department/s

  • Environmental and Energy Systems Studies
  • Department of Political Science
  • BECC: Biodiversity and Ecosystem services in a Changing Climate

Publishing year

2011

Language

English

Pages

1117-1128

Publication/Series

Futures

Volume

43

Issue

10

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Elsevier

Topic

  • Energy Systems
  • Political Science

Keywords

  • Systems
  • Backcasting
  • Institutions
  • Sweden
  • Climate
  • Governance

Status

Published

Project

  • ADAM - ADaptation And Mitigation Strategies supporting European climate policy
  • Governing transitions towards Low-Carbon Energy and Transport Systems for 2050

Research group

  • Miljöpolitik

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 0016-3287