Aligning economic feasibility, investor perceptions, and media narratives in renewable energy transitions: A socio-economic systems perspective

This study explores the systemic nature of renewable energy sources (RES) development, treating it as a complex and evolving socio-economic process shaped by multiple interacting forces. This paper integrates three critical dimensions, economic modeling, investor perceptions, and media coverage, to assess the current state of photovoltaic and wind power development and identify pathways for improvement. An economic analysis demonstrates that, given current payback periods and the growing trend in RES installations, additional subsidies are unnecessary. However, insights from an investor survey reveal that the primary barriers lie in complex and delayed administrative procedures for permits and approvals. Complementing these findings, sentiment analysis and topic modeling of news articles highlight a predominantly neutral tone and an emphasis on success stories and strategic developments, yet with limited coverage of the procedural and infrastructural barriers most frequently cited by investors. The paper demonstrates how advanced computational tools can uncover hidden interdependencies within socio-economic energy systems and provides a transferable framework for other small-to-medium economies seeking to balance market logic, institutional performance, and public legitimacy in their renewable energy transitions.