Socio-technical transitions in South Africa’s electricity system

In the last century, markets, technical configurations, existing power relations, and prevailing ideologies in industrialised countries have co-evolved in ways that promote fossil-fuel-based systems. Relatedly, the literature on sustainability transitions (STs) has gained significance in the last twenty years, primarily because of increased interest by those who are concern with enabling shifts towards low-carbon sources of energy. This research examines the kinds of changes which take place in fossil fuel path-dependent systems in response to the pressure imposed by the advent of greener alternatives. Understanding how fossil-fuelled path-dependent systems respond to such demands enables us to identify counter-strategies, which may help accelerate sustainability transitions. Using a combination of the multi-level perspective on socio-technical transitions and institutional theory, the thesis presents case studies centred on South Africa’s coal-fired electricity regime, which is entrenched in a system known as the minerals-energy complex (MEC). The case studies examine how the coal-fired electricity regime tried to maintain stability in the face of pressure to decarbonise by diversifying to include more renewables-based and gas-fired electricity generation, each of which is considered as a niche. The findings from the case studies are organised into three articles. The first paper presents a case study on the establishment of the MEC and shows how it became a highly path-dependent system, posing a formidable obstacle and challenge for new entrants. The second paper investigates the contestation between the dominant regime incumbent, Eskom, versus the nascent renewable energy programme. This paper demonstrates an evolving strategy of regime resistance in response to several gains achieved by the renewables niche over time. The third paper examines the emergence of a gas-to-power niche against a backdrop of interactions between electricity and liquid fuel regimes. This paper shows the highly dynamic changes that take place in a regime as it tries to maintain stability. The overall findings demonstrate that the electricity regime evolved from highly stable to having features of a fractured regime, or what could be understood to be a form of destabilisation. The thesis contributes to the ST field by suggesting several ways in which regime stability and change could be better understood. These include enhanced theorising of regime resistance through analysis of the regime’s multi-dimensional selection environment and mobilising endogenous institutional concepts through various modes of change (drift, layering, conversion and displacement) into the theory. Policy recommendations suggest a fractured regime requires a temporally sensitive displacement policy mix. This is one in which varying stages of regime stability are recognised and potentially exploited by corresponding niche strategies

A systematic review of agent-based modelling in the circular economy: Insights towards a general model

Circular Economy (CE) is a popular topic for governments and businesses around the world; yet, only a few comprehensive and economy-wide frameworks exist, and the consequences of the CE on economic systems stay unclear. With this systematic review, we put under scrutiny the existing contributions to Circular Economy (CE) that apply the Agent-based modelling methodology. There is an open gap in the CE literature regarding the use of ABM. The research question that guides this systematic review concerns the potential benefit of ABM for CE and how to use this methodology in the context of CE. We put in evidence three thematic areas, two agents and one process, namely producers, i.e. firms and industrial systems, consumers, i.e. households and waste disposal, and the diffusion of innovation. We infer that the former three thematic strands of literature can be further synthetized together to form a general model of the Circular Economy. This development is crucial to properly evaluate how the agent's heterogeneity affects the diffusion and the consequences of the adoption of CE practices on the economy. Research has widely applied ABM simulations to consider the impact of heterogeneity amongst individuals and their behavioural interactions on the evolution of complex systems, yet very little did it systematically about CE. Our results complement those of Computable General Equilibrium models. The review provides an interpretative framework, suggests valuable future research directions within the new comprehensive thematic area, and contributes to the theoretical and managerial discussion on agent-based modelling in the circular economy

Electricity demand and supply in South Africa: is nuclear energy a feasible alternative to coal for baseload energy supply in South Africa?

Climate change mitigation has created pressure on the energy mix choices of all countries. Highly polluting energy sources are increasingly unpopular. Renewable energy options have emerged as preferred choices for the low-emissions transition. Proponents of nuclear power have promoted the technology as a low-emissions technology by focusing on the operational phase and ignoring the other polluting phases. South Africa generated about 83% of its electricity supply from coal in 2019 and was rated as the 12th most polluting country in the world. In addition to the high pollution levels, the ageing coal fleet suffered from poor maintenance that resulted in frequent power blackouts. One of the government’s energy plans from 2010 proposed the addition of 9 600 MW of nuclear capacity by 2030. However, this plan was not implemented. This study investigates why nuclear power historically never expanded beyond a single power facility in South Africa as well as the possible future role of nuclear power in alleviating South Africa’s current electricity supply constraints and emissions commitments in the period up to 2050. Qualitative analysis is used for this study with a focus on historical document analysis and interviews with energy experts. Two research methods, case studies, and expert opinions were used in this study with data sourced from policy documents, Statistics South Africa, the World Bank, and published articles from various platforms. The Hotelling model, focusing on the impact of price differentials on energy transitions, was used as a theoretical framework. The conclusion from applying the model was that nuclear power was more expensive than the other options even when internalisation of pollution externalities was considered and therefore nuclear power could not displace the cheaper alternatives like coal based on price factors alone. The Multi-Level Perspective, working through institutions, revealed that the institutional setting did not support a transition to nuclear energy. The lack of coordination of strategies derailed the transition. The comparative case study analysis of Germany, the UK, Australia, and India reaffirmed this as countries with better coordination succeeded in transitions. Energy experts offered differing views on the feasibility of nuclear power but many agreed that South Africa should focus on technologies it has better competencies in.Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Commerce, Economics and Economic History, 202

A Practitioner’s Guide to Applied Sustainability: Initial Explorations

For decades, coal has been king in central Appalachia. The people of this region have devoted their lives to providing energy to the nation, fueling the first and second industrial revolutions and providing nearly 40 percent of the energy used in the United States today. Known as one of the unhealthiest communities in the nation, the city of Williamson, located in southern West Virginia, is working to encourage healthy living by diversifying its energy portfolio, providing new economic opportunities for businesses, creating a strong workforce with competitive skill sets, growing local food systems to encourage healthy living, and increasing the quality of life for this community. Operating under the banner of “Sustainable Williamson” and utilizing the emerging concept of applied sustainability, this community is developing a “praxis of theory” approach with a specific focus upon the socio-economic effects of ideology. This thesis explores the theoretical intersections between ideology and new materialism in order to provide existing and emerging practitioners of applied sustainability with an initial framework for developing successful projects in central Appalachia and beyond

Beyond known worlds:climate change governance by arbitral tribunals?

Can economic development and the fight against climate change be integrated successfully? What role, if any, does international investment law play in global climate governance? Can foreign direct investments (FDI) be tools in the struggle against climate change? What types of claims have foreign investors brought with regard to climate change-related regulatory measures before investment treaty arbitral tribunals? This Article examines the specific question as to whether foreign direct investments can mitigate and/or aggravate climate change. The interplay between climate change and foreign direct investments is largely underexplored and in need of systematization. To map this nexus, this Article proceeds as follows. First, it examines the conceptualization of climate as a global public good. Second, it considers it as an environmental issue. Third, it scrutinizes its conceptualization as a human rights issue. Fourth, it explores critical legal issues raised by the complex interplay between climate change and foreign direct investments. Fifth, it critically assesses several current case studies. Sixth, the Article will present some legal tools to achieve a balance between the different interests at stake. The conclusion will then sum up the key findings of the study

Managing the transition: an analysis of renewable energy policies in resource-rich Arab states with a comparative focus on the United Arab Emirates and Algeria

This study analyses renewable energy policy in hydrocarbons-wealthy Arab states. Integrating elements of energy policy analysis, Middle Eastern studies and sociotechnical governance theory, the thesis contributes to the understanding of renewable energy policy in this region as well as to the question of transferability of governance concepts. The thesis is structured in three parts. Part A discusses relevant research literature and presents the multi-level-perspective which structures the policy analysis. Additionally, the policy design model of transition management that closely interacts with the multilevel-perspective is presented. Then, the material content of renewable energy policies in hydrocarbons-wealthy Arab states is discussed and the research questions developed. A methodological discussion concludes Part A. Part B applies the analytical categories developed to two case studies, Algeria and the United Arab Emirates. The two countries represent the main types of Arab oil and gas wealthy states (large territorial and small city states) and two relevant regions (North Africa and the Gulf States). In addition to domestic renewable energy policy, the thesis also discusses the Desertec project, as well as Abu Dhabi’s Masdar Initiative as case studies within the larger country case studies. In the last part of this study, a cross-case analysis highlights common regional features and particularities in terms of renewable energy policy in the target region and formulates policy recommendations deriving from its critical use of the transition management approach. Lastly, it addresses theory-related outcomes of the case studies with regards to the transfer of Western policy design models to hydrocarbons-rich Arab states

Análisis bibliométrico de la producción científica sobre Economía Experimental

La Economía Experimental (EE) es un método de trabajo de la Economía del comportamiento que desarrolla modelos teóricos de comportamiento humano en ámbitos económicos. Los experimentos económicos tienen ya una larga tradición, y han proporcionado resultados espectaculares y conclusiones ampliamente admitidas sobre la dinámica de mercados y el efecto de las instituciones económicas. Las nuevas tecnologías facilitan la realización y el análisis de estos experimentos. El objetivo principal de este estudio es la revisión sistemática de la producción científica sobre Economía Experimental, desde el año 1990 hasta finales de 2021, en las bases de datos de Web of Science Core Collection y Scopus. El análisis descriptivo de datos se realizó con el software Rstudio, mientras que el análisis de redes se hizo con el software Vosviewer. El estudio muestra, entre otras cosas, que la producción bibliográfica en este campo se ha intensificado exponencialmente; así como, que el país con más investigaciones es Estados Unidos y el autor más citado es Urs Fischbacher.Experimental Economics (EE) is a working method of behavioral economics that develops theoretical models of human behavior in economic settings. Economic experiments have a long tradition, and have provided spectacular results and widely accepted conclusions about market dynamics and the effect of economic institutions. New technologies facilitate the conduct and analysis of these experiments. The main objective of this study is the systematic review of the scientific production on Experimental Economics, from 1990 to the end of 2021, in the Web of Science Core Collection and Scopus databases. Descriptive data analysis was performed with Rstudio software, while network analysis was performed with Vosviewer software. The study shows, among other things, that the bibliographic production in this field has intensified exponentially; as well as, that the country with the most research is 2 the United States and the most cited author is Urs Fischbacher.Universidad de Sevilla. Doble Grado en Matemáticas y Estadístic

Environment 2.0 : the 9th Biennial Conference on Environmental Psychology, 26-28 September 2011, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, The Netherlands

On behalf of the Environmental Psychology Division of the German Association of Psychology, the 9th Biennial International Conference on Environmental Psychology is organized by the Human-Technology Interaction (HTI) group of the School of Innovation Sciences of the Eindhoven University of Technology. The HTI group is internationally acclaimed for perception research, and has become established as a major centre of excellence in human-technology interaction research. Bringing together psychological and engineering expertise, its central mission is investigating and optimizing interactions between people, systems, and environments, in the service of a socially and ecologically sustainable society