Public policies and their influence on the development of the wind industry: comparisons between Brazil and China

Abstract

In this article, we perform a comparative analysis between China and Brazil to study the causal relations and interdependencies between elements of public policies concerning renewable energy and their influence on the development trajectories of the wind industry. China has achieved superior development of the wind turbine manufacturing industry. In the Chinese case, there has been a better articulation and integration of the energy and industrial policies. There was also a better agreement between the industrial policy and the Chinese technology policy. In the case of Brazil, energy and infrastructure policies were connected, which resulted in an installed wind capacity in greater balance with its effective generation. We conclude that the development of the wind energy industry depends on the recognition of a reciprocity between the energy and the industrial policies for the wind industry, as well as on their reciprocal interdependence with other policies, such as those governing technology, environment and infrastructure. A framework was developed representing these reciprocal interdependencies and the complexity existing among these policies. The framework serves as a tool for international benchmarking in this context. A set of recommendations for the formulation of public policies are presented in the form of lessons learned.

Graphical abstract