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The role of the state in sustainable energy transitions: A case study of large smart grid demonstration projects in Japan

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  • Mah, Daphne Ngar-yin
  • Wu, Yun-Ying
  • Ip, Jasper Chi-man
  • Hills, Peter Ronald

Abstract

Smart grids represent one of the most significant evolutionary changes in energy management systems as they enable decentralised energy systems, the use of large-scale renewable energy as well as major improvements in demand-side-management. Japan is one of the pioneers in smart grid deployment. The Japanese model is characterised by a government-led, community-oriented, and business-driven approach with the launch of four large-scale smart-community demonstration projects. Our case study of large smart grid demonstration projects in Japan found that the Japanese government has demonstrated its high governing capacity in terms of leadership, recombinative capacity, institutional capacity, enabling capacity, and inducement capacity. However, the major limitations of the government in introducing some critical regulatory changes have constrained the smart grid deployment from advancing to a higher-order form of smart grid developments. This paper calls for more attention to be given to the importance of regulatory changes that are essential to overcome the technological lock-in, and the complementary roles of non-state actors such as the business sector and consumers to strengthen the governing capacity of the state.

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  • Mah, Daphne Ngar-yin & Wu, Yun-Ying & Ip, Jasper Chi-man & Hills, Peter Ronald, 2013. "The role of the state in sustainable energy transitions: A case study of large smart grid demonstration projects in Japan," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 726-737.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:enepol:v:63:y:2013:i:c:p:726-737
    DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2013.07.106
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    7. Bossink, Bart, 2020. "Learning strategies in sustainable energy demonstration projects: What organizations learn from sustainable energy demonstrations," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 131(C).
    8. Christopher J. Blackburn & Mallory E. Flowers & Daniel C. Matisoff & Juan Moreno-Cruz, 2018. "Do Pilot and Demonstration Projects Work?," CESifo Working Paper Series 7252, CESifo.
    9. Yanxue Li & Weijun Gao & Yingjun Ruan & Yoshiaki Ushifusa, 2018. "Grid Load Shifting and Performance Assessments of Residential Efficient Energy Technologies, a Case Study in Japan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-19, June.
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    13. Daniel Schmitt & Chisenga Muyoya, 2020. "Influence in Technological Innovation Spaces: A Network Science Approach to Understand Innovation for Sustainability in the Global South," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-18, March.
    14. Dincer, Ibrahim & Acar, Canan, 2017. "Smart energy systems for a sustainable future," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 194(C), pages 225-235.
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    16. Niesten, Eva & Alkemade, Floortje, 2016. "How is value created and captured in smart grids? A review of the literature and an analysis of pilot projects," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 53(C), pages 629-638.
    17. Kejia Yang & Kaidong Feng, 2024. "Going beyond catch up: two governance models of China’s low-carbon energy transitions," Working Papers on Innovation Studies 20240108, Centre for Technology, Innovation and Culture, University of Oslo.
    18. Kim, Ji-hyun & Bae, Sung Joo & Yang, Jae-Suk, 2014. "Government roles in evaluation and arrangement of R&D consortia," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 202-215.
    19. Kiunke, Theresa & Gemignani, Natalia & Malheiro, Pedro & Brudermann, Thomas, 2022. "Key factors influencing onshore wind energy development: A case study from the German North Sea region," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 165(C).
    20. Ngar-yin Mah, Daphne & Wu, Yun-Ying & Ronald Hills, Peter, 2017. "Explaining the role of incumbent utilities in sustainable energy transitions: A case study of the smart grid development in China," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 109(C), pages 794-806.
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