Trade-Offs in Sustainable Energy Transition: Institutions and Interests in Shaping Energy and Electricity Mixes

By: Hyodong Sohn

Abstract:Ìý

• Trade-offs inherent in societal decisions about the sustainable energy transition are investigated using electricity mixes across various countries, including industrialized countries, all countries, and the states of the United States. From the array of potential drivers, this research project illuminates two key variables: those pertaining to institutions, including specific policies and a comprehensive pro-climate energy policy regime, and those related to interests, including the leverage of each coalition by electricity source types. By proposing a classification system that allows future researchers to assess trade-offs and synergies in sustainability beyond the traditional renewables and non-renewables dichotomy, this dissertation mainly suggests and employs a dynamic compositional approach that provides a new important angle to examine the trade-offs among energy sources in energy mixes.

  By using compositional models, the findings of the dissertation demonstrate that institutions can serve as pivotal drivers of change on a general scale. They can facilitate a sustainable transition from other energy sources to intermittent renewable sources, such as solar and wind energy, in a fundamental manner, as evidenced by the observed relative increase. However, these influences do not always manifest in the same way, and it is important to consider the nuances of the relationship between institutions and sustainable trade-offs. This is because positive and negative feedback loops of the institutions in question—which shape relevant interests, the institution itself over time, and other institutions—may occur simultaneously. Additionally, the findings underscore the intricate and multidimensional nature of trade-offs between various viable options in energy mixes, suggesting a careful understanding to design more effective strategies for navigating the transition toward a sustainable energy future.

  This dissertation contributes to the broader energy and sustainability fields by suggesting how the compositional approach can enrich the discussion related to energy transition in terms of climate change and sustainability. Moreover, it contributes to political science, political economy, and public policy studies by exploring the role of distributive politics and diverse institutions (through feedback processes) in shaping electricity mixes.