Energy policy participation through networks transcending cleavage: an analysis of Japanese and German renewable energy promotion policies

Abstract

Developed countries with minimal energy self-sufficiency struggle with lowering their dependence on oil and coal. Security guarantees countermeasures against global warming, and ensuring new energy sources are issues that have driven their choices between nuclear power generation and promotion of renewable energy resources in recent years. Individual nations such as Japan and Germany have been implementing various policies according to their own political and social circumstances, and often these circumstances include discussions and negotiations among diverse actors with different viewpoints and objectives. The networks formed by overcoming the cleavage between the electric power industry and the community consisting mainly of environmental organizations and left-wing political forces could also function as an additional means for environmental actors to break through the impasse formed by the political structure. However, in assessing the effectiveness of the ties that overcome this confrontation, in addition to the existence of ties that connect such communities, it is also necessary to consider whether the influence of environmental actors through intermediary networks extends to the policy formation process. This paper describes the networks involved in the renewable energy feed-in tariff system enacted in Japan after March 2011 and in Germany in the early 2000s and 2012 to investigate such influences. When comparing the energy policies of Japan and Germany, corresponding networks unifying the two communities in both countries were observed in an analysis that emphasizes the existence of ties. However, an in-depth analysis of attitude-based networks and hyperlink

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“…Germany has been selected for further analysis because it has been listed as the third most successful country after China and the United States (see Table 2) and, thus, the top renewable energy performing country in the EU. Germany initiated the development of renewable energy technology for electricity over two decades ago [57]. In 1991, the German government passed the Electricity Feed In Law (Stromeinspeisungsgesetz or StromEinspG), which later evolved into the Renewable Energy Act (Erneuerbare Energien Gesetz) (came into effect in 2000), to promote the feed-in of energy produced by renewable energy technologies into the grid for electricity suppliers [57].…”

“…Germany initiated the development of renewable energy technology for electricity over two decades ago [57]. In 1991, the German government passed the Electricity Feed In Law (Stromeinspeisungsgesetz or StromEinspG), which later evolved into the Renewable Energy Act (Erneuerbare Energien Gesetz) (came into effect in 2000), to promote the feed-in of energy produced by renewable energy technologies into the grid for electricity suppliers [57]. With the Renewable Energy Act, the entire regulatory framework for renewable energy technologies was revised, and differentiated tariffs were adopted for each form of renewable energy [57].…”

“…In 1991, the German government passed the Electricity Feed In Law (Stromeinspeisungsgesetz or StromEinspG), which later evolved into the Renewable Energy Act (Erneuerbare Energien Gesetz) (came into effect in 2000), to promote the feed-in of energy produced by renewable energy technologies into the grid for electricity suppliers [57]. With the Renewable Energy Act, the entire regulatory framework for renewable energy technologies was revised, and differentiated tariffs were adopted for each form of renewable energy [57]. As a result of these efforts of the German government to become one of the most energy efficient and environmentally-sound economies in the world without compromising the country's affordable energy prices and economic growth, renewable energy use underwent dramatic changes [5,58].…”

“…An important issue that has affected Germany's attitude towards renewable energy use is the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident in March 2011 [57,58]. A key feature of the Energy Concept was a proposal to extend the operating lifetime of the German nuclear power fleet by an average of 12 years, therefore postponing the nuclear power phase-out agreed by the former government [58].…”

“…A key feature of the Energy Concept was a proposal to extend the operating lifetime of the German nuclear power fleet by an average of 12 years, therefore postponing the nuclear power phase-out agreed by the former government [58]. However, after the Fukushima nuclear disaster, the German Government intensified efforts towards nuclear phase-out by 2022, starting with the immediate closure of the eight oldest plants [57,58]. This decision resulted in the adoption of a second package of measures, which completed the Energy Concept, to support renewable energy and grid expansion, promote energy efficiency, fund the reforms and reverse the previous decisions to extend the lifetime of the nuclear plants [58].…”