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Dramatic improvements in renewable energy and small-scale distributed generation (DG) technologies have been made in the last twenty years. Nevertheless, they remain underutilized in the American electric utility system. Despite the immense environmental, technical, and financial promise of renewable energy systems and DG technologies, such generators still constitute a very small percentage of electricity generation capacity in the United States. This relative neglect occurs despite remarkable gains in their technical performance and reductions in their cost of producing power—the result (in part) of dramatic government support for several decades. Moreover, the technologies often demonstrate great environmental benefits that appeal to policymakers and consumers. At the same time, they offer ways to enhance strained distribution and transmission networks. This project attempts to answer the apparently paradoxical question: why do new energy technologies that offer such impressive benefits also find the least use? The dissertation emphasizes how the history and culture of the community of electricity producers and users helps explain why the new technologies have seen little use. Going beyond technical explanations of alleged low capacity factors and high capital costs, it focuses on the social nature of decision making among participants in the electric utility system. The approach not only helps us understand the glossing over of renewable energy and distributed generation technologies, but also suggests ways of overcoming the barriers faced by their advocates. / Ph. D.

Abstract Background: The global shift towards renewable energy is critical for combating climate change and achieving sustainability. This transition is significantly influenced by regulatory frameworks, which vary across different sectors and regions. Turkey's tourism sector, a substantial consumer of energy, presents a unique context for examining the impacts of renewable energy regulations. Purpose: This study explores the implications of recent renewable energy regulatory changes in Turkey on the tourism sector. It aims to understand how these regulations influence the adoption and implementation of renewable energy solutions within tourism businesses, the economic impacts of these regulations, and the role of societal norms and stakeholder expectations in driving these changes.  Method: Employing a qualitative case study approach, this research integrates semi-structured and unstructured interviews, field observations, and document analysis to gather detailed insights. The study focuses on "Summer Tour," a prominent Turkish tourism agency, examining the company’s strategies and responses to regulatory changes through the lens of Institutional Theory. Conclusion: The findings reveal that regulatory changes, particularly the amendments allowing unlicensed energy production outside consumption areas, have significantly facilitated renewable energy adoption in the tourism sector. These changes have yielded substantial economic benefits, including cost savings and enhanced profitability. However, unintended consequences such as regulatory complexity and retroactive policy adjustments pose challenges. Additionally, societal norms and stakeholder expectations play a critical role in shaping organizational behavior towards sustainability. This study provides valuable insights for policymakers and businesses, highlighting the importance of adaptive strategies and comprehensive regulatory frameworks in promoting renewable energy adoption. / <p>Thesis tackles an interesting topic of renewable energy adoption through the lens of institutional theory. The background section is well written which clearly highlights the importance of the study. Problem discussion, however, lacks theoretical focus. Institutional theory is presented as a theoretical lens to understand adoption of renewable energy in Turkish tourism sector but motivation of using this theory is missing. Authors need to further elaborate on: what we know about institutional theory and sustainability, what we do not know? And how the current research adds to our understanding of institutional theory and sustainability. Literature review chapter is well structured. There is good discussion on the literature on renewable energy adoption and the government role which shows authors in-depth understanding of the topic. Also, section on Turkish renewable sector is well presented. The section on institutional theory is okay. However, the discussion on the connections between three pillars and renewable energy/sustainability are generic, how it is relevant in Turkish context is lacking, specifically in the tourism industry. Need to reflect on how the use of institutional theory enhance our understanding of Renewable energy adoption in Turkish tourism sector. Single case study is well connected to the purpose and RQ of the thesis. However critical reflection on single case study design is needed, for example a discussion on single vs multiple case design and why authors have chosen single case design. There is an interesting discussion on data analysis but lacks explanation on how different steps are taken to move from codes to themes and aggregate dimensions. Case description is well written, however, there is a need to add a chronological history, steps taken, and challenges faced by the company and how they overcome these challenges overall findings are well presented in a data structure. The discussion chapter relates the findings to the existing literature. There is an interesting discussion on updated conceptual framework vis a vis Turkish tourism sector, but how these contribute to the literature on institutional theory and sustainability is lacking. There needs to be a discussion on adding to the existing literature which extends the current understanding of institutional theory in general and sustainability in particular.</p>

This study examines the parliamentary debate regarding the proposition "Ny kärnkraft i Sverige - Ett första steg" which aims to facilitate the expansion of nuclear power in Sweden. The purpose is to provide an understanding of the nuclear power debate in the Swedish Parliament since it has been revived by the energy crisis in 2021 and Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The debate is analyzed through a qualitative content analysis to identify the arguments of Tidöpartierna and the opposition for and against the proposition. The identified arguments are then interpreted through the social identity perspective to explain their different standpoints. The results show that nuclear power is a divisive issue in the Swedish Parliament. Interpretation through social identity theory reveals that the parties' historical positions, their perception of which arguments are most effective to attract voters, and confirmation bias influence their views on the nuclear power issue. The conclusions indicate that it is an issue that divides the Parliament into two sides: Tidöpartierna and the opposition parties, with each side presenting different solutions to the energy issue. Tidöpartierna argues for an energysystem where nuclear power complements renewable energy sources, while the oppositionparties favor a solution where the energy system is solely based on renewable energy sources.

This project examines the development of renewable policy in California and Germany through the theoretical lens provided by John Dryzek's democratic theory of social movement engagement with the liberal democratic nation-state. Specifically, this thesis considers the impact of social movements on what the theory identifies as five core imperatives of state. The argument uses a qualitative, comparative, process tracing methodology, supported by critical discourse analysis, to analyze environmental social movement engagements with the state in relation to the development of renewable energy policymaking in the state of California and in the Federal Republic of Germany between 2000 and 2017. Whereas Dryzek and colleagues argue that environmental movement activism may have prompted a new, sixth, environmental conservation imperative of state, this thesis differs. Rather, the analysis finds that if indeed such a sixth imperative is emergent, it might better be defined as a resource conservation imperative. That is, in California and in Germany, it is not so much the environment but rather access to abundant and economically sustainable natural resources that states aim to conserve. / Master of Arts / This thesis explores the influence of the relationship between social movements and policymakers on renewable energy policy in California and Germany. Social movements are, for the most part, groups who wish to change government policy without necessarily winning elections or otherwise entering into public office. As such, this research examines how social movements, particularly environmental social movements, interact with government policymakers to affect renewable energy policy. This project’s analysis is based on evidence collected from newspapers and online news sources from California and Germany through 2000 to 2017. The findings suggest that environmental movements, as well as policymakers, use the language of what are called state imperatives in order to justify changes to renewable policy. These state imperatives are basically the main duties or goals that governments need to satisfy or accomplish. The findings also suggest that if a new duty or goal of the state is arising, it has to do with saving or conserving resources. This research is important as environmental issues such as global climate change continues to increasingly become a threat to society, and it also helps to further understand how renewable energy policy is developed.

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study explores the impact of primary energy on the measurement of state power and hegemony. Through an examination of British and American hegemonies, the role of coal, oil and petroleum on the hegemonic cycle is assessed, and the argument is presented for the inclusion of energy as a primary element underpinning the state power base. Utilising the Hegemonic Stability Theory approach to the study of global hegemony, a framework for the assessment of the role of energy on international hegemony is constructed. The Hegemonic Stability Theory approach employed in this study is augmented through the incorporation of several complimentary theoretical approaches, in order to improve the theory’s applicability to multiple cases. Through an examination of the economic, financial, and military/naval ‘pillars’ of the respective hegemonic powers, the study determines that energy has had a marked impact on both British and American hegemonies. Technological developments, notably the steam engine, and the subsequent conversion of the Royal Navy, the cornerstone of British hegemony, from sail to steam, made coal vital to the British Empire. In contrast, the use of oil and petroleum during the United States hegemonic reign indicate that access to oil and petroleum not only benefitted the United States material power base, but has become vital to sustaining American hegemony. This study makes a plausible case for the inclusion of energy as a factor in the assessment of state power, and draws attention to the importance of ensuring energy security and maintaining technological leads. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie verhandeling ondersoek die impak wat grond-energie het as maatstaf op staatsmag en hegemonie. Na afleiding van ‘n gevalle studie van beide Britse en Amerikaanse hegemonies - die rol wat steenkool, olie en petroleum speel op die hegemoniese siklus – stel hierdie navorsingstuk voor dat grond-energie ingesluit moet word as ‘n kriterium van hoe staatsmag gemeet word. Hierdie tesis wend Hegemoniese Stabiliteitsteorie aan om internasionale hegemonie te ondersoek. ‘n Raamwerk om die belang van energie te meet in internasionale hegemonie word opgestel. Die Hegemoniese Stabiliteitsteorie aanslag word aangepas deur verskeie komplimentêre teoretiese benaderings te inkorporeer en sodoende die teorie meer toepaslik te maak op verskeie gevallestudies. Deur die ekonomiese, finansiële en militêle/vloot ‘pilare’ van die onderskeie hegemoniese magte te ondersoek, bevind hierdie verhandeling dat energie ‘n bepalende invloed gehad het op beide Britse en Amerikaanse hegemonies. Tegnologiese ontwikkelings, mees opmerklik die stoomenjin en die gevolglike oorgang van die Koninklike Vloot (die hoeksteun van Britse hegemonie) van seil- na stoomenjins, was die gevolg dat steenkool van uiterse belang geword het vir die Britse Ryk. In kontras word aangedui dat die gebruik van en toegang tot olie en petroleum tydens die hegemoniese bewind van die Verenigde State van Amerika nie net die materiële magsbasis bevoordeel het nie, maar asook bepalend geword het om Amerikaanse hegemonie te handhaaf. Hierdie verhandeling maak die aanneemlike voorstelling dat energie ingesluit moet word as ‘n faktor om staatsmag te meet, en dui die belang daarvan aan om tegnologiese vooruitgang te onderhou en sodoende energie sekuriteit te verseker.

University of Macau / Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities / Department of Government and Public Administration