The Factors of Local Energy Transition in the Seoul Metropolitan Government: The Case of Mini-PV Plants

Jae-Seung Lee and Jeong Won Kim
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Jae-Seung Lee: Division of International Studies and Green School (Graduate School of Energy and Environment), Korea University, 145 Anam-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02841, Korea
Jeong Won Kim: Green School (Graduate School of Energy and Environment), Korea University, 145 Anam-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02841, Korea

Sustainability, 2017, vol. 9, issue 3, 1-22

Abstract: As a way of enhancing urban sustainability, Seoul Special City, the capital of South Korea, has shown strong enthusiasm for urban energy transition by tackling climate change and expanding renewable energy. The Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG) has adopted the “One Less Nuclear Power Plant (OLNPP)” strategy since April 2012 and specific policy measures, including a mini-photovoltaic (PV) plant program, were introduced to facilitate the energy transition. However, varying degrees of success were achieved by 25 district-level local governments (Gu) with mini-PV plant programs. This study explored the reason why those local governments showed different levels of performance despite the strong will of municipal government (SMG) to implement urban energy transitions through the mini-PV plant program. The tested hypotheses were based on capacity, political context, public awareness and geographical diffusion. The findings indicated that institutional capacity, financial dependence, political orientation and public perception had positively affected the performance of mini-PV plant installation at each district level. Especially, the political will of each district mayor played an important role in the implementation of the policy.

Keywords: One Less Nuclear Power Plant; mini-PV plant; sustainable city; energy transition; Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG) (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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