Abstract/Summary

This thesis contributes insights on the role of institutions on the substitution for fossil fuels across countries. Using panel data econometric methods, the research focusses on 19 European countries from years 2011-2018, and finds evidence that (a) higher industrialisation levels in the economy positively affects energy substitution; that (b) changes in industrialisation levels, not the levels themselves, negatively affects energy substitution, but state-related institutions in support of green energy policy weaken this effect; and that (c) higher degrees of state participation of the electricity sector negatively affects energy substitution, but state-related institutions in support of green energy policy likewise weaken this effect. Furthermore, qualitative research methods were used to investigate how community-based approaches to renewable energy help in the substituting renewables for fossil fuels in Europe. This feature online interviews focussing on 14 REScoop.eu member cooperatives and organisations and 4 non-REScoop.eu organisations, and a complementary online survey of 32 respondents. This part of the research finds that (a) cooperatives’ legal form is not seen to generate the perceived advantages to cooperatives in renewable energy proliferation and (b) in addressing associated land use issues; that (c) there is the perception that renewable energy cooperatives directly help in renewable energy proliferation through localising energy production and stimulating the local economy, (d) by making renewables more acceptable at the local level, and (e) by building trust-based relationships with the communities; and that (f) such cooperatives are hampered by the general lack of corresponding professional and technical expertise, by being mostly run by volunteer work, and by the democratic decision-making process.