Abstract
This chapter identifies an ongoing shift in global energy investment and electricity generation capacity away from fossil and nuclear fueled sources and toward renewable energy sources, especially regarding solar and wind power, but also with respect to biomass and geothermal. Yet, the rates of adoption vary greatly across countries. This chapter outlines second-stage challenges and opportunities to the widespread adoption of renewable energy, including grid capacity and flexibility, electricity storage and electricity market restructuring and liberalization. It identifies three causal factors that hinder or facilitate the overcoming of second-stage challenges, and their transformation into opportunities: the structure and influence of vested interests in the electricity sector, the influence of public opinion, and the presence of strong-state institutions.
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Midford, P. (2021). Introduction. In: Midford, P., Moe, E. (eds) New Challenges and Solutions for Renewable Energy. International Political Economy Series. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-54514-7_1
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