Il progetto

The aim of the research project is to study the energy transition with reference to the Italian case focusing on interest groups dynamics and actors’ coalitions as relevant factors in determining national energy policies. Even if renewable energy technologies have become increasingly competitive, appropriate policies continue to remain critically important for their future development. National arenas are key on this regard: public policies at this level implement international (and EU) agreements and programs, and provide financial and regulatory support for increasing the role of renewables in the energy mix. Different actors’ coalitions hence seek to influence national energy policymaking, and policy developments will help determine the ‘winners’ and ‘losers’ of the energy transition. Starting from this premise, the project intends to: 1) develop an analytical framework for mapping the main public and private actors active in the Italian energy sector and its distinct policy sub-systems; 2) illustrate how alternative actors’ coalitions are formed and structured; and 3) analyze how these coalitions move to support or hinder the Italian energy transition. Empirically, the project covers three time phases: I) the beginning of the Italian energy transition (the early 2000s); II) the acceleration triggered by the post-pandemic recovery plan (PNRR); and III) the changes induced by the energy crisis caused by the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. The last two phases represent critical junctures for the Italian energy transition. Investigating the most significant policy decisions to steer national energy system and the relevant role of interest groups and competing alternative coalitions in these critical junctures is essential to understand the current and future path of Italian energy policy. Methodologically, the project relies on the methods of process tracing, interviews, and network analysis techniques. Operationally, the main steps of the research project are organized in Work packages and Deliverables (see below). The project’s expected results and impacts are manifold. First, the project will improve the analytical knowledge of the politics of the energy transition and the role played by interest groups, gas and oil incumbents, renewable industries and advocacy coalition in it. This knowledge is very important to design policy measures able to increase the supporters of the energy transition making this process more feasible. Secondly, the project will close an important gap in the literature, as there is no research on these topics covering the Italian case. Finally, the project will help the consolidation of a network of early-career and senior researchers on the politics and policy of the Italian energy transition. This network will be important for disseminating knowledge, developing comparative studies, and contributing to an informed public debate on the Italian energy transition

I risultati

Le attività di divulgazione