EME 805
Renewable Energy and Non-Market Enterprise

Overview

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Overview

We are going to now look at how nonmarket strategies can be developed for renewable energy projects. The literature on nonmarket strategies specifically addressing renewable energy projects is minimal, so we will need to interpolate and interpret relevant examples based on the currently available cases and arguments, as exemplified in the readings for Lesson 10. What is clear is that the further development and adoption of all forms of renewable energy can benefit from making the nonmarket arguments and implementing the nonmarket strategies.

Prime among nonmarket arguments for renewables, thus far, has been the immediate need to reduce the overall emission of GHGs and addressing the impacts of climate change, which renewables help to significantly reduce. The next nonmarket issue that has played a significant role in directing energy policy is "energy security" and "energy independence" for nation states. The "energy independence" argument drives the exploration of local energy resources, both in terms of traditional fossil fuels and renewables. Climate change and all that is entailed with it is, globally, the biggest nonmarket driver of renewables adoption. However, there are many other aspects worth considering as well, such as emissions related to issues other than GHGs and the use of fresh water at any point in the energy cycle.

For the rest of this course, what are referred to here as "policies" will be the main mechanism with which overall nonmarket strategies will be implemented. "Policies" can refer to corporate, NGO, or governmental actions (formally articulated) that attempt to enable aspects of an overall nonmarket strategy. You will be constructing a "policy" and a "policy brief" for your final project, which will contain your campaign and background rationale.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, you should be able to:

  • identify potential nonmarket dimensions in renewable projects;
  • define nonmarket conditions for renewables projects; and
  • scope policies for your renewables project.

What is due for Lesson 10?

This lesson will take us one week to complete. Please refer to the Course Syllabus for specific time frames and due dates. Specific directions for the assignment below can be found within this lesson.

Lesson 10: Assignments
Requirements Assignment Details
To Do Read and familiarize yourself with all the Lesson 10 materials.
Read
  • Fay, Marianne. 2012. Inclusive green growth the pathway to sustainable development. Washington, D.C.: World Bank. NOTE: Read Chapters 1 & 2, and have a look through the rest of the document
  • Kobos, P.H., J.D. Erickson, and T.E. Drennen. 2006. "Technological learning and renewable energy costs: implications for US renewable energy policy". Energy Policy. 34 (13): 1645-1658
  • Holburn, Guy L. F., and Richard G. Vanden Bergh. 2014. "Integrated market and nonmarket strategies: Political campaign contributions around merger and acquisition events in the energy sector". Strategic Management Journal. 35 (3): 450-460
  • Boyd, J. 2007. "Nonmarket benefits of nature: What should be counted in green GDP?" Ecological Economics. 61 (4): 716-723
  • "Views on the elaboration of non-market-based mechanisms" United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (Organization). 2009. Report of the Ad Hoc Working Group on Long-term Cooperative Action under the Convention on its seventh session, held in Bangkok from 28 September to 9 October 2009, and Barcelona from 2 to 6 November 2009. [Geneva]: United Nations

    (All links to readings available in Canvas course folder for Lesson 10.)
Assignment
  • Complete the Lesson 10 Worksheet (Policy Survey) and upload to the Lesson 10 Assignment in Canvas.

Questions?

If you have any questions, please post them to our Questions? discussion forum (not e-mail), located under the Discussions link in Canvas. I will check that discussion forum daily to respond. While you are there, feel free to post your own responses if you, too, are able to help out a classmate.