Renewable Energies in Germany’s Electricity Market : A Biography of the Innovation Process

This cross-sectional, interdisciplinary study traces the “history of innovation” of renewable energies in Germany. It features five renewable energy sectors of electricity generation: biomass, photovoltaic, wind energy, geothermal energy and hydropower. The study analyzes the development of the respective technologies as well as their contribution to electricity generation. It focuses on driving forces and constraints for renewable energies in the period between 1990 and today. Through tracking the innovations and mapping the actors, the book answers questions such as: Which technological developments, pivotal actors and actor constellations, which political strategies, goals and instruments play a major role in the innovation process? What legal, administrative, economic and social conditions have been and still are most significant? How do the conflicting aims of environmental protection objectives, including the goals to battle climate change, fit into the larger picture of energy production? Which are the variables that most affect the expansion of renewable energy usage, and in what way? Front Matter....Pages i-xx Introduction....Pages 1-5 Introduction to the Methodology....Pages 7-13 Cross-sectoral Interventions, Events and Processes....Pages 15-87 Innovation Framework for Generating Biogas and Electricity from Biogas....Pages 89-159 Innovation Conditions in the Case of Solar Power Generation....Pages 161-228 Conditions for Innovation in Geothermal Power Generation....Pages 229-260 Innovation Framework for Generating Electricity from Wind Power....Pages 261-331 Innovation Framework for Generating Electricity from Hydropower....Pages 333-365 Cross-Sectional Comparison....Pages 367-386 Insights into the Drivers of Innovation....Pages 387-402 Back Matter....Pages 403-408 This cross-sectional, interdisciplinary study traces the “history of innovation” of renewable energies in Germany. It features five renewable energy sectors of electricity generation: biomass, photovoltaic, wind energy, geothermal energy and hydropower. The study tracks the development of the respective technologies as well as their contribution to electricity generation. It focuses on driving forces and constraints for renewable energies in the period between 1990 and today.