Building the Bridge: How System Dynamics Models Operationalise Energy Transitions and Contribute towards Creating an Energy Policy Toolbox

Sarah Hafner (), Lawrence Gottschamer, Merla Kubli, Roberto Pasqualino and Silvia Ulli-Beer ()
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Sarah Hafner: Institute of Sustainable Development, Zurich University of Applied Sciences, 8400 Winterthur, Switzerland
Lawrence Gottschamer: Independent Researcher, Gabriel Biel-Strasse 27, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
Merla Kubli: Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management, Delft University of Technology, 2628 BX Delft, The Netherlands
Roberto Pasqualino: Centre for Environment, Energy and Natural Resource Governance, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1TN, UK
Silvia Ulli-Beer: Institute of Sustainable Development, Zurich University of Applied Sciences, 8400 Winterthur, Switzerland

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 19, 1-34

Abstract: The complexity and multi-dimensionality of energy transitions are broadly recognised, and insights from transition research increasingly support policy decision making. Sustainability transition scholars have been developing mostly qualitative socio-technical transition (STT) frameworks, and modelling has been argued to be complementary to these frameworks, for example for policy testing. We systematically evaluate five system dynamics (SD) energy models on their representation of key STT characteristics. Our results demonstrate that (i) the evaluated models incorporate most of the core characteristics of STT, and (ii) the policies tested in the models address different levels and aspects of the multi-level perspective (MLP) framework. In light of the increasing emergence of energy (transition) models, we recommend to systematically map models and their tested policy interventions into the MLP framework or other sustainability transition frameworks, creating an overview of tested policies (a “policy navigator”). This navigator supports policy makers and modellers alike, facilitating them to find previously tested policy options and related models for particular policy objectives.

Keywords: system dynamics; socio-technical transitions; sustainability transitions; public policy; energy transition; governance (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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