Abstract
Energy transitions will be shaped, among other aspects, by their Institutional historical trajectory. Institutions reproduce and change over the time, and these processes have been investigated under different and sometimes confronting approaches. We proposed a framework which articulates different institutionalism approaches to understand the dominance of hydroelectricity in the Brazilian matrix. The framework articulates institutional processes to explain its reproduction and change over time. Findings point out that institutional path dependence and isomorphism have precluded the adoption of other technologies in Brazil. Contrarily, momentary external or internal crisis in the field rapidly fostered the emergence of electricity generation transition from almost fully hydroelectric to a hybrid matrix with thermal (fossil and biomass) and wind power. Crises presented an opportunity to strategic action of social skilled agents on institutional change. This analytical framework improves the integration of complementary theoretical approaches for understanding institutional dynamics in order to guide policymakers.Keywords: Energy Transitions; Institutional Analysis; Brazilian Electricity SectorJEL Classifications: B52, P48, Q42DOI: https://doi.org/10.32479/ijeep.8056
Highlights
Social technical transitions have been explored under hybrid theories (Solomon and Krishna, 2011) (Araújo, 2014) (Kucharski and Unesaki, 2018) (Germán et al, 2016)
This paper aims to contribute to the research on institutional dynamics, regarding their effects on Brazilian technological choices for electricity generation
Integrative Analytical Framework for Institutional Reproduction and Change in the Brazilian Electricity Sector An initial competitive condition stresses an interest under dispute among social agents, in this particular case, the technological choices for energy generation in Brazil
Summary
Social technical transitions have been explored under hybrid theories (Solomon and Krishna, 2011) (Araújo, 2014) (Kucharski and Unesaki, 2018) (Germán et al, 2016). Neo-institutionalism has articulated politics, economics and sociology to unveil the complexity of social technical transitions (Kucharski and Unesaki, 2018). In the electricity sector social technical transitions usually drives the replacement of fossil fuels by renewable sources. Brazilian case is particular because it shows an empirical and relatively recent case where the electrical transition went backwards: From hydroelectricity to thermoelectric fossil sources. After an offer crisis between 2000 and 2002, the national matrix shifted towards a hybrid source configuration, incorporating fossil thermoelectric, which delivered stability and reliability to national matrix regarding eventual water shortage in rainy seasons
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