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Introduction

Legitimacy for Renewables?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 June 2025

James Goodman
Affiliation:
University of Technology Sydney
Gareth Bryant
Affiliation:
University of Sydney
Linda Connor
Affiliation:
University of Sydney
Devleena Ghosh
Affiliation:
University of Technology Sydney
Jonathan Paul Marshall
Affiliation:
University of Technology Sydney
Tom Morton
Affiliation:
Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg
Katja Müller
Affiliation:
Merseburg University for Applied Sciences
Stuart Rosewarne
Affiliation:
University of Sydney
Riikka Heikkinen
Affiliation:
University of Technology Sydney
Lisa Lumsden
Affiliation:
University of Technology Sydney
Mareike Pampus
Affiliation:
Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg
Priya Pillai
Affiliation:
University of Technology Sydney
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Summary

The Introduction sets the rationale and parameters for the study. The rationale begins with the growing climate crisis and the urgent necessity to decarbonise energy. It outlines the limits of the current assumption that private sector investment can deliver the required decarbonisation. Public legitimacy for renewables, we argue, has moved to the centre of the energy transition, requiring stronger forms of social ownership over the emerging energy systems. New roles for the state in decarbonising society are highlighted, along with a ‘re-commoning’ agenda and issues of sufficiency. Finally, the book’s focus on investigating and comparing region-level ‘success’ stories is outlined.

Information

Type
Chapter
Information
Decarbonising Electricity
The Promise of Renewable Energy Regions
, pp. 1 - 18
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2025

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