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Support policies for renewables: Instrument choice and instrument change from a Public Choice perspective

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  • Erik Gawel
  • Sebastian Strunz
  • Paul Lehmann

Abstract

This paper frames the transition towards clean energies as a sequential process of instrument choice and instrument change. First, regulators decide how to initiate the transition away from fossil energies. Here, support policies for renewable electricity are politically convenient because they face low resistance from fossil energies' interest groups. In the second stage, regulators need to adapt support policies for renewables to challenges arising along the transition pathway. We empirically substantiate our arguments by tracing the development of support policies in Germany.

Suggested Citation

  • Erik Gawel & Sebastian Strunz & Paul Lehmann, 2016. "Support policies for renewables: Instrument choice and instrument change from a Public Choice perspective," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2016-6, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    • Handle: RePEc:unu:wpaper:wp-2016-6
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    File URL: https://www.wider.unu.edu/sites/default/files/wp2016-6.pdf
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    Cited by:

    1. Strunz, Sebastian & Gawel, Erik & Lehmann, Paul, 2016. "The political economy of renewable energy policies in Germany and the EU," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 33-41.
    2. Bucksteeg, Michael, 2019. "Modelling the impact of geographical diversification of wind turbines on the required firm capacity in Germany," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 235(C), pages 1476-1491.
    3. Bernardo Alves Furtado & Gustavo Onofre Andre~ao, 2022. "Machine Learning Simulates Agent-Based Model Towards Policy," Papers 2203.02576, arXiv.org, revised Nov 2022.

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