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Which policy instruments attract foreign direct investments in renewable energy?

Author

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  • Ronald Wall
  • Stelios Grafakos
  • Alberto Gianoli
  • Spyridon Stavropoulos

Abstract

Reducing GHG emissions and mitigating climate change would require significant investments in renewable energy technologies. Foreign direct investments (FDI) in renewable energy (RE) have increased over the last years, contributing to the diffusion of RE globally. In the field of climate policy, there are multiple policy instruments aimed at attracting investments in renewable energy. This article aims to map the FDI flows globally including source and destination countries. Furthermore, the article investigates which policy instruments attract more FDI in RE sectors such as solar, wind and biomass, based on an econometric analysis of 137 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and non-OECD countries. The results show that Feed in Tariffs (FIT) followed by Fiscal Measures (FM), such as tax incentives and Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS), are the most significant policy instrument that attract FDI in the RE sector globally. Regarding carbon pricing instruments, based on our analysis, carbon tax proved to be correlated with high attraction of FDI in OECD countries, whereas Emissions Trading Schemes (ETS) proved to be correlated with high attraction of FDI mainly in non-OECD countries.Key policy insights Feed in Tariffs is the most significant policy instrument that attracts FDI in the Renewable Energy sector globally.Fiscal Measures (FM), such as tax incentives, show a significant and positive impact on renewable energy projects by foreign investors, and particularly on solar energy.Carbon pricing instruments, such as carbon taxation and emissions trading, proved to attract FDI in OECD and non-OECD countries respectively.Public investments, such as government funds for renewable energy projects, proved not as attractive to foreign private investors, perhaps because public funds are not perceived as stable in the long run.

Suggested Citation

  • Ronald Wall & Stelios Grafakos & Alberto Gianoli & Spyridon Stavropoulos, 2019. "Which policy instruments attract foreign direct investments in renewable energy?," Climate Policy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 19(1), pages 59-72, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:tcpoxx:v:19:y:2019:i:1:p:59-72
    DOI: 10.1080/14693062.2018.1467826
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Ekaterina Azarova & Hannah Jun, 2021. "Investigating Determinants of International Clean Energy Investments in Emerging Markets," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-15, October.
    2. Samuli Patala & Jouni K. Juntunen & Sarianna Lundan & Tiina Ritvala, 2021. "Multinational energy utilities in the energy transition: A configurational study of the drivers of FDI in renewables," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 52(5), pages 930-950, July.
    3. Li, Raymond & Lee, Hazel, 2022. "The role of energy prices and economic growth in renewable energy capacity expansion – Evidence from OECD Europe," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 189(C), pages 435-443.
    4. Donia Aloui & Brahim Gaies & Rafla Hchaichi, 2023. "Exploring environmental degradation spillovers in Sub-Saharan Africa: the energy–financial instability nexus," Economic Change and Restructuring, Springer, vol. 56(3), pages 1699-1724, June.
    5. Bogdan Klepacki & Barbara Kusto & Piotr Bórawski & Aneta Bełdycka-Bórawska & Konrad Michalski & Aleksandra Perkowska & Tomasz Rokicki, 2021. "Investments in Renewable Energy Sources in Basic Units of Local Government in Rural Areas," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-17, May.
    6. Schyska, Bruno U. & Kies, Alexander, 2020. "How regional differences in cost of capital influence the optimal design of power systems," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 262(C).
    7. Mágui Lage & Rui Castro, 2022. "A Practical Review of the Public Policies Used to Promote the Implementation of PV Technology in Smart Grids: The Case of Portugal," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-20, May.
    8. Chai, Song & Liu, Qiyun & Yang, Jin, 2023. "Renewable power generation policies in China: Policy instrument choices and influencing factors from the central and local government perspectives," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 174(C).
    9. Zhang, Yang & Alharthi, Majed & Ahtsham Ali, Syed & Abbas, Qaiser & Taghizadeh-Hesary, Farhad, 2022. "The eco-innovative technologies, human capital, and energy pricing: Evidence of sustainable energy transition in developed economies," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 325(C).
    10. Chandrika Raghavendra & Mahesh Rampilla & Venkata Ramana Thanikella & Isha Gupta, 2022. "Impact of Carbon Tax and Environmental Regulation on Inbound Cross-Border Mergers and Acquisitions Volume: An Evidence from India," IJFS, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-16, November.
    11. Ziyuan Tang & Hasan Dinçer, 2019. "Selecting the House-of-Quality-Based Energy Investment Policies for the Sustainable Emerging Economies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(13), pages 1-22, June.

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