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Too Good to Be True? How Time-Inconsistent Renewable Energy Policies Can Deter Investments

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  • Nils May
  • Olga Chiappinelli

Abstract

The transition towards low-carbon economies requires massive investments into renewable energies, which are commonly supported through regulatory frameworks. Yet, governments can have incentives - and the ability - to deviate from previously-announced support once those investments have been made, which can deter investments. We analyze a renewable energy regulation game, apply a model of time-inconsistency to renewable energy policy and derive under what conditions governments have incentives to deviate from their commitments. We analyze the effects of various support policies and deployment targets and explain why Spain conducted retrospective changes in the period 2010-2013 whereas Germany stuck to its commitments.

Suggested Citation

  • Nils May & Olga Chiappinelli, 2018. "Too Good to Be True? How Time-Inconsistent Renewable Energy Policies Can Deter Investments," Discussion Papers of DIW Berlin 1726, DIW Berlin, German Institute for Economic Research.
    • Handle: RePEc:diw:diwwpp:dp1726
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Olga Chiappinelli & Karsten Neuhoff, 2020. "Time-Consistent Carbon Pricing: The Role of Carbon Contracts for Differences," Discussion Papers of DIW Berlin 1859, DIW Berlin, German Institute for Economic Research.
    2. Nils May & Karsten Neuhoff, 2021. "Financing Power: Impacts of Energy Policies in Changing Regulatory Environments," The Energy Journal, , vol. 42(4), pages 131-152, July.
    3. Florian Habermacher & Paul Lehmann, 2020. "Commitment Versus Discretion in Climate and Energy Policy," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 76(1), pages 39-67, May.

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    JEL classification:

    • Q42 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Energy - - - Alternative Energy Sources
    • Q55 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environmental Economics: Technological Innovation
    • O38 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Government Policy
    • C73 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Game Theory and Bargaining Theory - - - Stochastic and Dynamic Games; Evolutionary Games

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