P9: Political Parties and the Implementation of Sustainable Energy Systems

Current population surveys leave no doubt about the German public's general support for installing a green energy system. In accordance, a political consensus to push forward the energy system transformation seems to have been established - which appears crucial since it takes political action to translate the "mere" availability of technological solutions into what is referred to as Energiewende. Yet, when it comes to the actual implementation, the German energy transition resembles an equation with various unknowns: Regulative options for lawmakers are manifold and may lead to a number of transition pathways that are diverging in substance. Moreover, transforming the energy systems may go along with increased energy prices and/or reductions of individual comfort, which has the potential to undermine the above-mentioned public support.

With a successful transition towards a sustainable energy supply in mind, neither the functioning of the political system and its institutions nor the population's willingness to accept can be neglected. Currently, deficiencies can be stated for either field: Institutional inertia and traditional interests of political parties prove just as obstructing as the highly consensual design of the German political system. Furthermore, infrastructural projects such as high voltage transmission grids face strong local opposition. Here, NIMBY-phenomena play an important role. Besides, insufficient participation and communication such as the unclear design of the future energy system, e.g. when it comes to its degree of centrality, strongly add to the population's ambivalent attitude.

This project focusses on the question how successful political regulation can be achieved in a field of policy that is highly structured by uncertain knowledge, a plurality of actors with diverging interests, and die-hard path-dependencies. Paying tribute to the fact that energy systems have a highly interdependent and co-evolving socio-technical character, spaces of possibility for energy transition will be identified. While an engineering perspective creates knowledge about what is technically viable, political scientists provide insight into the societal feasibility of technologies and, on that basis, present practical strategies for implementing new energy systems.

Doctoral Candidate: Sebastian Thuß

First (Main-) Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Werner J. Patzelt

Second Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Dominik Möst