News

A new working paper by Sarah Olbrich and Dierk Bauknecht explores System Building and the Third Phase of Transitions.

Sustainability transitions occur in different phases: first, the emergence of new innovations, second, the acceleration of innovations, and third, the stabilisation of a new regime. While the processes of the first and second phase are well-described, comparatively little attention has been paid to the third phase. With the help of a literature review building on theories of socio-technical transitions as well as insights from the energy transition case in Germany, this paper introduces system building as a concept that accounts for the characteristics and challenges in the third phase. System building does not merely take place in the niche sphere, but asks for restructuring dynamics in the existing regime as well. It involves the institutionalisation of innovations, the alignment of old and new system elements as well as an interaction between old and new regime actors.

http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4170503

Zusammen mit Hartmut Fünfgeld hat Sarah Olbrich einen Artikel zu

„Energiegerechtigkeit im Windenergieausbau – Finanzielle Teilhabe als Möglichkeit zur Stärkung lokaler Akzeptanz?“ veröffentlicht.

Der Windenergieausbau an Land wird durch Proteste vor Ort oft verzögert oder gar verhindert. Finanzielle Teilhabe wird
in diesem Kontext als Maßnahme diskutiert, um lokale Akzeptanz zu fördern, indem sie das empfundene Gerechtigkeitserlebnis positiv beeinflusst. Aufbauend auf dem Konzept der Energiegerechtigkeit wird in diesem Beitrag untersucht, inwieweit verschiedene Formen der finanziellen Teilhabe geeignet sind, um Kosten und Nutzen besser zu verteilen, um Mitsprachemöglichkeiten zu schaffen und um zu prüfen, wer finanziell teilhaben kann. Neben einer umfassenden Literaturanalyse wurden dazu Interviews mit Planerinnen/Planern und Betreiberinnen/Betreibern von Windenergieanlagen geführt. Diese zeigen, dass finanzielleTeilhabe in verschiedenen Projekten unterschiedlich gut angenommen wird und die präferierte Form der Beteiligung regional unterschiedlich ist. Außerdem erscheint keine Form der finanziellen Beteiligung dafür geeignet, alle Dimensionen der Energiegerechtigkeit anzusprechen, wobei alle Formen unterschiedliche Vor- und Nachteilehaben. Die Ergebnisse zeigen daher, dass finanzielle Beteiligung allein nicht in der Lage ist, lokale Akzeptanz zu erhöhen. Sie kann aber in einem Maßnahmenmix als Mittel zur Akzeptanzsteigerung effektiv sein.

doi: https://doi.org/10.14512/rur.150

The Chair of Sustainability and Transformation Research analyses transformation processes and strategies, especially towards a sustainable energy system, at the interface between academic and applied transformation research.

We invite applications for a 3-year PhD scholarship, with an evaluation after 1 year, 1300 Euros per month plus child allowance

Start date: as soon as possible

The following paper provides an overview of the work within which the PhD will be located:  https://www.researchgate.net/publication/357932858_The_third_phase_of_the_energy_transition

Requirements

• University degree in social sciences, economics or other energy related degrees, with above-average grades
• Knowledge of energy systems and energy policy
• Knowledge of transformation research
• Knowledge of mixed methods and practical experience with empirical research work are an asset, but no requirement
• Very good knowledge of written and spoken English

Application documents

• Letter of motivation (one page): Please sketch out how you would like to contribute to the research described in the above paper and state with which research methods you are familiar with.
• Curriculum vitae with presentation of previous academic work and supporting evidence for the above requirements
• Copies of certificates

For this scholarship, we are particularly pleased to receive applications from women.

Please send your application in electronic form to:

Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg
Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources
Prof. Dr. Dierk Bauknecht  

dierk.bauknecht@sustainability-transitions.uni-freiburg.de

For further information, please contact Prof. Dr. Dierk Bauknecht. 

Sustainability transitions understood as the transformation of socio-technical systems to more sustainable ones occur in different phases: the emergence of new innovations, the acceleration of innovations , and the stabilisation of new regimes. Public policies play a central role in the guidance of transitions. Research on policy mixes in sustainability transitions has focused so far on the emergence, acceleration and diffusion of radical niches and has started to address the destabilisation of the existing regime. Comparatively little attention has been paid to the third phase, the building and stabilisation of the new regime. This process does not merely take place in the niche sphere, but asks for restructuring dynamics in the existing regime as well. It involves the institutionalisation of innovations, the alignment of old and new regime elements as well as an interaction between old and new regime actors. With the help of a literature review and building on theories of socio-technical transitions and policy mixes in such transitions, this paper explores the challenges that come along with the establishment of a new regime and what strategies could be pursued to tackle those challenges in order to guide transitions. Theoretical considerations are exemplified with current discussions in the energy transition.

The working paper was presented at the International Sustainability Transitions Conference 2021 and can be found here.