The Incumbents’ Conservation Strategies in the German Energy Regime as an Impediment to Re-Municipalization—An Analysis Guided by the Multi-Level Perspective

Abstract

Abstract:After two decades of privatization and outsourcing being the dominant trends across public services, an inclination towards founding new municipal power utilities can be observed. In this article, the authors examine the preservation strategies of the German energy regime following the transition approach developed by Geels. From the multi-level perspective, it can be stated that innovations take place in niches and have to overcome the obstacles and persistence of the conventional fossil-nuclear energy regime. Through an empirical analysis, it can be concluded that the established regime significantly delays the decentralization process required for a transformation of energy structures on local electricity grids. Furthermore, it is shown that municipal utilities (Stadtwerke) are important key actors for the German Energiewende (energy transition) as they function as local energy distributors and they meet a variety of requirements to promote fundamental structural change. The trend towards re-municipalization and the re-establishment of municipal utilities reveal the desire to further strengthen the scope of local politics.

Economic Resilience of German Lignite Regions in Transition

“…While both are closely related, they differ in their primary objectives: the former strives to steer change with a focus on creative capacity, while the latter aims to build resilience, focusing on adaptive capacity [20,21]. From a transition management perspective, Berlo et al [22], Vögele et al [23], and Leipprand and Flachsland [24] have analyzed the energy transition in Germany using the multi-level perspective (MLP) by Geels [25]. Foxon,Reed,and Stringer [20] propose to use both approaches, transition management and adaptive management, in a complementary way, combining the objectives of both.…”

Incumbents in the Transition Towards the Bioeconomy: The Role of Dynamic Capabilities and Innovation Strategies

“…Three criticisms can be highlighted: (i) regimes are usually treated as black boxes, often interpreted as one stable highly aggregated structure [8,57,58], (ii) the lack of attention to the role of actors or agencies, especially in the regime concept [59,60], and (iii) incumbents are conceptualized mainly as locked-in and inert, "the old guards" [5] who are reluctant to new technological paths that may threaten their powerful position [28]. For example, Berlo et al's recent study indicates that incumbents in the German energy regime represent a major impediment to the transformation of energy supply by practicing conservation strategies [61]. Hess [62] shows that political spending by incumbent industries overwhelms grassroots coalitions.…”

Grosse Stadtwerke – theoretische und empirische Exploration eines besonderen Akteurs in der Energiewende Deutschlands und der Schweiz

“…Incumbents konzeptualisiert -Akteure, die Teil des alten Systems sind und neue Entwicklungen zu verhindern suchen -oder aber sog. Challengers -Akteure, die versuchen Innovationen zu befördern und das System zu ändern (Wassermann et al 2015;Berlo et al 2017;Geels 2014;Geels et al 2014;Kungl und Geels 2017). Parallel dazu wurde auch der Begriff der "intermediaries" im Kontext sozio-technischer Transition untersucht (Guy et al 2011;van Lente et al 2003;Moss 2009;Backhaus 2010), doch auch hier handelt es sich um ein sehr generisches Verständnis von Akteuren, die zwischen andere Akteuren "vermitteln" (Moss 2009).…”