Innovation and institutional change: the transition to a sustainable ...

Transition to a sustainable electricity system 9
c. how can these insights be utilised to direct systems change in a more
sustainable direction?
The following chapters provide the answers to these research questions.
Chapter two presents an overview of theoretical work relevant to the study
of systems change and focuses on the way different theoretical streams deal
with the institutional factor in fundamental changes of production and
consumption systems (in short: systems change).
Chapter three builds upon the theoretical reflections of the previous chapter
and develops an analytical framework that structures the empirical part of
the book. Main elements of the conceptual model used in the empirical
chapters are introduced and explained.
Chapter four – stability and transformation in the electricity system –
analyses main changes that have taken place in the electricity system in the
past three decades. The initial focus is on explaining the emergence of a
range of alternative paths within the electricity system, varying from nuclear
technology, to wind energy, biomass, cogeneration, and green electricity.
Next the focus is on explaining relative success and failure of the paths taken
within the context of the electricity and broader institutional arrangements
for knowledge generation, economic exchange, policy and regulation,
societal legitimacy. In-depth review of two relative successful paths takes
place in two further chapters.
Chapter five – the evolution of decentral cogeneration – provides insight in
how changes in the institutional setting, in connection with some other
changes, can trigger a process of change where a previously disfavoured
technological concept and design becomes more and more attractive and
fundamentally alters basic beliefs and principles underlying the system.
Chapter six – the emergence of green electricity – provides a more detailed
assessment how the introduction of a new concept within the electricity
system triggers changing interactions between institutional change at
different levels which may offset a process of systems change.
Chapter seven extends the analysis of past changes in the electricity system
and utilise the insights for the development of potential transition paths
towards a more sustainable electricity system. In a first step the focus is on
methodological aspects of the development of transition paths. Two
scenarios are constructed based on this methodology to illustrate potential
transition paths. This is followed by policy recommendations drawn on the
basis of these scenarios.