The global energy trilemma has brought attention to the importance of energy access, in particular to the 1.3 billion people worldwide without access to electricity. Vital for addressing poverty, improving people s quality of lives and meeting the Millennium Development Goals, small scale solar energy technologies are espoused as a solution to household energy needs in off-grid areas of the developing world. This thesis contributes to this critical research area through an investigation of energy governance issues in Nicaragua; specifically it focuses on the practices and experiences of off-grid solar energy technologies. The lived realities, voices and aspirations of energy users are largely absent in scholarly accounts of energy poverty, as such this thesis considers the implications of solar energy technologies from the perspective of those ultimately adopting, using, maintaining (and abandoning) them. Contributing to the burgeoning field of geographical and social science studies of energy, this thesis draws on ten months of field research in Nicaragua, which encompassed more than seventy qualitative interviews with stakeholders at multiple spatial scales. This included actors from international development agencies, national government, non-governmental organisations, the private sector, civil society, as well as households participating in three solar energy programmes. This was complemented by a large household survey of participants from one solar energy programme. Incorporating perspectives from the micro, meso and macro scales, this study presents a highly nuanced picture of the Nicaraguan energy landscape. The study concludes that interaction between global energy paradigm shifts and the domestic political economic context produced an electricity sector that was until recently - characterised by low distributional equity, deep consumer mistrust and dominated by fossil fuel-based electricity generation. The recent prioritisation of energy as a key developmental concern is demonstrated not only in strong government intervention, but also through growing international interest in solving Nicaragua s energy problem . A raft of programmes to green the electricity generating matrix, strengthen distribution activities and expand electricity access have emerged. Despite these encouraging developments, this research concludes that issues related to transparency, vested interests and the politicisation of electricity access appear to remain unresolved. The study traces the development of the off-grid solar energy market segment, revealing a complex architecture of institutions and actors working to promote and deploy solar energy technologies at scale. While this market initially developed in response to gaps in remote electrification plans, the research finds that recent grid expansion activities mean that the longer-term scope for small scale solar energy technologies is limited. However, solar energy remains an important feature of energy development assistance in Nicaragua, with further evidence in this study highlighting the amenability of solar energy to multiple institutional objectives and mandates whether climate change-related or poverty focused. The thesis concludes that the positions and expectations of key solar actors are often misaligned with the needs, wants and aspirations of off-grid energy users. Engagement with the narratives of people living in remote, off-grid areas reveals that the implications of solar energy programmes are not guaranteed, static, or necessarily captured by all households or indeed, all members of households. Users perceive that small scale solar energy technologies provide important soft benefits including increased levels of comfort, security, wellbeing and connectivity. However, the benefits are only captured for as long as the technology continues to work whether in organisational, financial, technical or social terms. The research concludes that there are numerous challenges facing solar energy interventions in Nicaragua, with some barriers connected to the situation of the user household, for instance, their continued ability to absorb the financial commitments associated with technology use. Other challenges link to the broader political economic context, where the highly complex, fragmented and politicised nature of (solar) electricity access has the potential to undermine interventions. This thesis argues that it is vital to examine solar energy interventions as embedded within broader political economic frameworks, but also to account for the intricacies of inter and intra-household dynamics. The study contributes new insights and empirical findings to debates on global energy governance, energy poverty, and the practices, politics and experiences of off-grid solar energy technologies in the Global South.

The transition from one energy system to another has been analysed by many researchers especially in the context of developed countries. Community renewable energy transition in rural areas is largely under-researched, particularly in developing countries. This study developed a model based on indicators from transition theory and concepts to assess the transformative potential of the processes and governance approaches to community renewable energy in accelerating energy and sustainability transition in off-grid communities in Nigeria. The exploratory research adopted a case study approach and analysed renewable energy planning and decision-making processes as well as evaluated the development of a pilot community renewable energy project in Shape rural community in Nigeria. In addition to documentary evidence, the study gathered data primarily by interviewing 24 relevant actors in the Nigerian electricity industry as well as actors involved in the pilot community renewable energy project. The study reveals that the processes and governance approaches adopted are in line with transition theory and have the potential of contributing to the transformation of the rural electricity provision in Nigeria. However, there is still a long way to go for Nigeria to effectively implement an integrated governance approach capable of accelerating the transition processes. The study found that community renewable energy is motivated by several determinants including: the lack of energy accessibility; removing carbon emissions; meeting environmental obligations; achieving energy security; and, addressing cracks in the current system of rural electrification. The study further found a lack of local initiatives at the grassroots level that can add pressure to make the transition happen. The study found the establishment of an arena for the identification of the challenges facing rural communities and development of strategies. However, some prominent actors are not involved in both strategic decision-making and the implementation process. Of concern, the study revealed a lack of clearly defined responsibilities with most of the government agencies carrying out renewable energy activities independently. Similarly, the study found several barriers which are classified as: actor; interaction; institutional; infrastructural; and, socio-political that are challenging the successful transition to community renewable energy. This work contributes to current attempts to operationalise transition theory and concepts to assess on-going transition processes and governance. This is a significant contribution to the literature because it helps in linking theoretical development with sustainability in practice in a developing country context. The study may assist policy makers, communities and other relevant stakeholders in designing an integrated governance framework for renewable energy transition in rural areas.

As condições de vida na terra estão sendo alteradas de forma ainda desconhecida pelo homem. A eficiência energética é apontada como uma das estratégias de mitigação das mudanças climáticas e melhoria da qualidade de vida. De todos os setores de atividade, a indústria é o maior usuário de energia. Assim, este trabalho focaliza a eficiência energética industrial; trata da questão energia e sustentabilidade, e dos respectivos custos; da evolução dos programas de racionalização de energia e do seu marco regulatório no Brasil, dentre outras forças de mercado, como as resultantes da estrutura competitiva, etc. Finalmente, o trabalho define a gestão da energia com seus instrumentos de controle e, baseado na concepção universal de governança e na governança corporativa, propõe um modelo de governança de energia para a indústria sob requisitos de sustentabilidade. / Life conditions on Earth are being changed by ways still unknown to man. Energy efficiency is one of the strategies to mitigate climate change and to improve quality of life. As manufacturing is the greatest energy user, this work studies industrial energy efficiency, examines the energy and sustainability issue, its costs, the evolution of the regulatory framework, the development of energy rationalizing programs and other relevant market forces in Brazil, as those resulting from the competitive dynamic etc. Finally, the work defines energy management, its control instruments and, based on corporate governance concepts, proposes an energy governance model for manufacturing under sustainability requirements.

This thesis focuses on energy governance in the EU. It examines the role of intermediaries in governing conflicts that emerge from changes in material energy landscapes (infrastructures, technologies, resources) and the policy landscapes associated with decarbonisation. The thesis assesses the impact that intermediaries have on the goals of low-carbon transition through case studies of energy governance in Bulgaria and the UK. Intermediaries here refer to organizations, individuals, networks or institutions operating in-between other actor groups. The argument made by this thesis is that their strategic position allows intermediaries to play a key role in shaping energy infrastructure and the context of low-carbon transitions in the EU to their advantage. By using a conceptual framework which brings together 5 bodies of literature - on governance, infrastructure networks, low-carbon transitions, power and intermediaries - the thesis examines several strategic energy sectors in Bulgaria (wind and solar power, natural gas and energy efficiency) and the United Kingdom (offshore wind). The research methods include extensive analysis of energy regulation and a range of official and unofficial secondary literature; 49 semi-structured interviews with energy elites and participant observation at 6 different events. The collected data were used to analyse the material landscapes of energy and a range of strategic institutions involved in regulating, producing, transmitting and distributing energy in Bulgaria and the UK. The key findings of the thesis are that intermediaries can translate, block or accelerate socio-technical change. Intermediaries can be tenacious barriers to change because of their physical integration within energy infrastructure networks. The thesis distinguishes between two types of intermediaries: those disabling and enabling to low-carbon energy objectives. Whether enabling or disabling, intermediaries have the ability to translate knowledge and interests between stakeholders by reordering and prioritising certain interests over others. By translating between stakeholders intermediaries amplify the impact of their own specific context, creating more local, regional and national differences in approaches within the EU. Through their integration within energy infrastructure and/or policy networks, intermediaries are capable of complementing hierarchical government, as well as competing with it in pursuing their own interests. However only intermediaries integrated within material energy infrastructure are able to reorder and change the priorities of the state, while intermediaries integrated within policy networks are limited in what they can translate and between whom.

As condições de vida na terra estão sendo alteradas de forma ainda desconhecida pelo homem. A eficiência energética é apontada como uma das estratégias de mitigação das mudanças climáticas e melhoria da qualidade de vida. De todos os setores de atividade, a indústria é o maior usuário de energia. Assim, este trabalho focaliza a eficiência energética industrial; trata da questão energia e sustentabilidade, e dos respectivos custos; da evolução dos programas de racionalização de energia e do seu marco regulatório no Brasil, dentre outras forças de mercado, como as resultantes da estrutura competitiva, etc. Finalmente, o trabalho define a gestão da energia com seus instrumentos de controle e, baseado na concepção universal de governança e na governança corporativa, propõe um modelo de governança de energia para a indústria sob requisitos de sustentabilidade. / Life conditions on Earth are being changed by ways still unknown to man. Energy efficiency is one of the strategies to mitigate climate change and to improve quality of life. As manufacturing is the greatest energy user, this work studies industrial energy efficiency, examines the energy and sustainability issue, its costs, the evolution of the regulatory framework, the development of energy rationalizing programs and other relevant market forces in Brazil, as those resulting from the competitive dynamic etc. Finally, the work defines energy management, its control instruments and, based on corporate governance concepts, proposes an energy governance model for manufacturing under sustainability requirements.

As the world's largest energy consumer and producer, China is the leading player of the international energy arena. Among other important achievements, China has become the world's largest wind power market as well as largest producer of hydroelectricity and solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity. In recent years China has been at the centre of almost every work stream within the International Energy Agency (IEA), and many other international energy organizations. This thesis aims to understand what role China can and will play in global energy governance by examining how its domestic energy context shapes the country's attitudes toward the multilateral, market and climate change aspects of global energy governance. China's recent re-emergence has resulted in a significant increase in the global demand of commodities and is already having major impacts on the dynamics of global commodity markets. In the case of the global uranium market, we are at the very beginning of a new era in the global energy system. However, we can already observe interesting trends. My research question will be," How China's search for supplies changes and influences its role in the global energy governance? "

yes / This paper sets out to provide a deeper understanding of the regulatory framework to drive energy transformation processes in the MENA region and the barriers for change. The recent developments in a global scale have encouraged States to look towards alternative sources of energy to power their nation, with nuclear energy and renewable technologies. Technologies such as wind power and solar energy appear to be attracting interest in many countries and regions, and in the MENA region this is primarily solar energy. However, all States are at different stages of development and therefore, it poses a challenge for taking into consideration definitively the costs and efficiency of renewable energy technologies. This paper investigates the state of preparedness of the legal framework in the region in order to deploy renewable sources of energy to power these countries in years to come.

全球能源消費大國之中，日本的低能源蘊藏量以及高能源利用率常引起多方研究。本文從蒐集並整理日本戰後至2011年間的能源政策、比較311前後兩個執政黨（民主黨、自民黨）的能源政策立場，到探究日本於311後能源政策轉折的方向及原因、並且進一步推敲出日本的能源治理模式。因此發現，日本在二戰之後就開始運用一系列的政策手段與能源市場干預途徑，突破低能源蘊藏量之先天不利條件，達到高能源利用率之後天技術優勢所創造的經濟成長。而當日本經歷2011年3月11日東日本大震災後，政府更強烈介入能源市場，希望進行能源結構的轉型，使得日本得以維持能源高自主率與溫室氣體低排放率的目標。本文因此結論，日本雖然身為能源匱乏國，但是它的能源政策充分體現出了國家介入能源市場由上而下治理模式的特性，使得日本得以突破能源約束，在諸多能源不利之條件下開創了近半世紀的經濟高度發展期。此外，本文亦結論日本於全球能源治理的角色可以歸納為三：（1）全球溫室氣體減量暨全球能源安全提升的追隨者；（2）區域性能源合作的示範者；（3）全球核能安全建立的示範者等三種角色。 / Japan is noted for its low energy endowment but high energy efficiency among the global top energy consuming nations. In this study, collection of the past Japanese energy policies from 1945 to 2011, comparison of the political stances on the energy strategies between the two Japanese ruling parties, Liberal Democratic Party and The Democratic Party, and investigation on factors causing a change of Japan’s energy policy post Fukushima contributed to outlining the pattern of Japan’s energy governance. This study found that Japan’s intervening in its the post-war domestic energy market by means of a string of policy instruments has successfully made Japan overcome the predicament of high energy demands out of low energy reserves, further achieve the edge of high energy efficiency, and therefore create its outstanding economic growth. Nevertheless, after experiencing another energy predicament post Fukushima, Japan made more effort on the intervention into its energy market to transform its domestic energy consumption structure with a view to maintaining high energy self-sufficient rates and low GHGs emissions. To conclude, although Japan is a nation of insufficient energy resources, its energy policies reveal the trait that the state intervenes in the energy market by the top-down governance approach to make its way to break through the energy constraints, creating a nearly half-century’s economic prosperity. Besides, we also conclude that Japan plays three major roles in the domain of global energy governance: 1. a follower of global GHGs emission abatement and global energy security enhancement, 2. a demonstrator on regional energy cooperation and, 3. a model of building global nuclear power safety.

In this dissertation, I investigate the role of oil resources and economic and political institutional quality on the economic performance of Iran. To this end, I examine four related themes. First and foremost, I provide a detailed picture of the economic structure of Iran and compare its performance with other oil and non-oil economies of the Middle East and the Middle Easterb region. As we get a clear picture of the relative economic position of Iran in the MENA region, I go further into macroeconomic analyses of oil wealth effects on the Iranian economy. The second theme investigated in this dissertation is the interaction of political power structure with oil rents and their effects on Iranian economic growth. This study is the first examination which takes into consideration political factionalism interaction with oil rents in the case of Iran. The results show that oil resources have a direct positive effect on economic growth in Iran. However, the interaction effect of factionalism (as a proxy for political asymmetry degree) with oil rents is negative and significant. The third theme which is examined in this study is illegal trade in Iran. This topic is also related to natural resource management in Iran. A large number of fuel products smuggled from Iran are due to heavy subsidies within the country. In this study, I measure the amount of illegal trade in Iran, identifying the major causes and indicators of smuggling. The average of illegal trade in Iran’s total trade is 13%. The value of annual illegal trade, on average, is within the range of $ 2.5 - 3 billion. The fourth topic which is examined in this dissertation is macroeconomic populism in Iran. The main source of financing populism spending in Iran is the oil revenues. Therefore, it is connected to the management of natural resources.

Transmits decision SS.VII/2 of UNEP Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment. / UN Job no.: N0230044 E. Material type: Resolutions/decisions (UN). Issued under agenda item 1, agenda document A/CONF.199/PC/1.