TRIGGERING EVENTS FOR CORPORATE ENTREPRENEURSHIPLEADING TO INVESTMENTS IN RENEWABLE ENERGY

Abstract

Renewable energy investments may be threatened by uncertainty regarding current support regulations. Incentives forinvestments would need to integrate more aspects regarding the companies that enter the renewable energy market. The currentpaper explores the triggering events for corporate entrepreneurship that lead to investments in the renewable energy field. Itpresents an empirical analysis based on a qualitative approach, aiming at identifying which types of triggering events influencethe decision to invest in renewable energy most, while also providing insight into the characteristics of these companies. Thestudy relies on data collected from 30 companies that have undertaken corporate entrepreneurship activities in the renewableenergy field. The targeted companies were both companies with no energy background, which decided to broaden their portfolioby entering the renewable energy market, and providers of conventional energy which also invested in renewable energy. Thefindings of the study contribute to the understanding of factors that influence the investors decision to enter the renewableenergy market and may represent basis for further research that would consolidate the formulation of renewable energy policies.Results show that opportunity-driven events may have a higher impact on corporate entrepreneurship in the renewable energyfield, and that the decision within the company to diversify its domain of activity may also rely on non-financial drivers.