How to accelerate electrification? The leverage of policies

Abstract

This chapter discusses the types of policy instruments that can be deployed to accelerate electrification as a master solution to climate neutrality. We first situate the target outcome of climate neutrality in the context of further interests within society that also affect the conduct of policy actors. Simultaneously we acknowledge the presence of structural features such as historically developed path-dependencies and lock-ins within the energy system and society. We then differentiate between varieties of policy instruments: command-and-control instruments, economic instruments, management and planning instruments, as well as education and information instruments. Using a structuration approach to energy policy formation, we finally discuss how policy-makers assess the structures discernible in their policy environments and on that basis eventually choose between rival policy options. We expect policy-makers to identify and choose which policy instruments to promote on the basis of their analysis of the situation as they perceive it.