Comparing drivers, barriers, and opportunities of business models for renewable energies: A review

Maximilian Engelken, Benedikt Römer, Marcus Drescher, Isabell M. Welpe and Arnold Picot

Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2016, vol. 60, issue C, 795-809

Abstract: This article systematically reviews the emerging field of research on business models for renewable energies, differentiating between developing and industrialized countries. The key findings on developing countries are as follows: first, there is a lack of quantitative data; second, opportunities are driven primarily by unfulfilled basic needs and micro-finance, whereas corruption and weak electricity grids are the main barriers; and third, business models should be replicable. The key findings on industrialized countries are as follows: first, opportunities are driven primarily by climate change mitigation and energy efficiency improvements; second, stuck thought patterns and high costs of energy storage are important barriers; and third, cooperation is a key in future business models to handle increasing complexity. This review reveals implications for researchers and policy-makers. Promising avenues for future research are the analysis of intermodal business models and opportunities concerning energy self-supply and renewable district heating. Policy-makers are advised to design legal frameworks that account for the global nature of the renewable energy challenge and are simultaneously adapted to regional disparities.

Keywords: Renewable energy; Business model; Country comparison; Driver; Barrier; Opportunity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (81)

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DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2015.12.163

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