Laura KAINIEMI
Actors and the energy transition - How actors influence energy policy
Energy policy can in cases lead to the creation of institutions that slow down the development and adoption of renewable energy, as well as other climate abatement applications. As a result, these institutions can slow down the transition towards a more sustainable energy system. What can cause the creation of these kinds of institutional obstacles? Typically, there are a multitude of conflicting pressures from stakeholders to any policy measure. Actors also influence policy through their mental models, such as expectations on technological potential. Different policy making arenas, such as EU policy and national policies, can generate policy discrepancies. Finland is an example of a country that already has a high share of renewables, but has a highly centralized energy system, with well-defined institutions. This kind of institutional environment can be resistant to change and provides different examples of policies that can slow down the adoption of renewables and other climate abatement technologies.
