Transition pathways, transition failure, and sustainable transition in developing countries: Insights from wind turbines in Iran

Abstract

This study aims to investigate transition pathways, identify transition failures and propose policy solutions based on functions of technological innovation system (TIS) to overcome transition failures in the wind turbine industry in Iran. To this end, this paper employs a qualitative approach and case study research strategy. In this regard, the historical evolution of the wind turbines in Iran from 1988 to 2020 is investigated through the lens of sustainable transitions pathways, the integrated theoretical framework (combination of technological innovation system and multi-level perspective) with identifying a kind of pathway in each. Then, the reasons for the transition failure in each stage are extracted by employing a transition failure theoretical framework. Finally, to address the transition failures, appropriate policy solutions are proposed based on each function of the technological innovation system (TIS) theory. This paper contributes to the literature of sustainability transition by shedding light on the evolution of a renewable energy sector in a developing country with huge underground oil and gas reserves.