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Adoption of renewable energy technologies in oil-rich countries: Explaining policy variation in the Gulf Cooperation Council states

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  • Atalay, Yasemin
  • Biermann, Frank
  • Kalfagianni, Agni

Abstract

While the member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council have economically and politically been dominated by the exploitation of fossil fuels, recent years have seen an increasing adoption of renewable energy technologies, the reasons of which are not yet sufficiently understood. This paper argues that the recent adoption of renewable energy technologies in the Gulf and its striking variation can be explained by theories of policy transfer. In addition, we find some support for the alternative hypothesis of endogenous policy development regarding political leadership. Yet there is no support for the alternative hypothesis of a strong direct influence of the international climate regime. Furthermore, the policy transfer hypothesis and political leadership stand as coexisting influences on renewable energy adoption, rather than competing ones. Based on an extensive study of primary and secondary sources, local reports and country analyses of international organizations, and personal interviews with key experts, this paper lays out in detail how transfers of renewable energy policies take place in the Gulf; their drivers; and their impacts. We also discuss the factors that lead countries to lag behind, which can be helpful for prospective research on a more extensive utilization of renewable energy in the region and beyond.

Suggested Citation

  • Atalay, Yasemin & Biermann, Frank & Kalfagianni, Agni, 2016. "Adoption of renewable energy technologies in oil-rich countries: Explaining policy variation in the Gulf Cooperation Council states," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 206-214.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:85:y:2016:i:c:p:206-214
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2015.06.045
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    13. Tehreem Fatima & Grzegorz Mentel & Buhari Doğan & Zeeshan Hashim & Umer Shahzad, 2022. "Investigating the role of export product diversification for renewable, and non-renewable energy consumption in GCC (gulf cooperation council) countries: does the Kuznets hypothesis exist?," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 24(6), pages 8397-8417, June.
    14. Li-Chen Sim, 2023. "Renewable Energy and Governance Resilience in the Gulf," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(7), pages 1-17, April.
    15. Alsayegh, Osamah & Saker, Nathalie & Alqattan, Ayman, 2018. "Integrating sustainable energy strategy with the second development plan of Kuwait," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 82(P3), pages 3430-3440.
    16. Atalay, Yasemin & Kalfagianni, Agni & Pattberg, Philipp, 2017. "Renewable energy support mechanisms in the Gulf Cooperation Council states: Analyzing the feasibility of feed-in tariffs and auction mechanisms," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 723-733.
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    18. Al-Maamary, Hilal M.S. & Kazem, Hussein A. & Chaichan, Miqdam T., 2017. "Climate change: The game changer in the Gulf Cooperation Council Region," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 555-576.

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