TY  - JOUR
AU  - Vögele, Stefan
AU  - Kunz, Paul
AU  - Rübbelke, Dirk
AU  - Stahlke, Theresa
TI  - Transformation pathways of phasing out coal-fired power plants in Germany
JO  - Energy, Sustainability and Society
VL  - 8
IS  - 1
SN  - 2192-0567
CY  - Berlin
PB  - Springer
M1  - FZJ-2018-04992
SP  - 25
PY  - 2018
AB  - BackgroundWhile there are plenty of studies investigating the market penetration of new technologies, phase-out processes of a predominant technology are rarely analyzed. The present study explores the case of a declining technology, employing the example of coal-fired power plants in Germany. These plants were promoted by governmental decision-makers as well as by the industry for a long time, but meanwhile, the phase-out or at least a cutback of coal-fired power plants is––not only in Germany––considered to be a key strategy for the transformation towards a sustainable society.MethodsWe investigate potential pathways of the future development of the coal-fired power plant sector in an extended multi-level perspective (MLP) framework that integrates economic, social, political, and technical aspects.ResultsTaking into account the fact that coal is losing its support from several important stakeholders (e.g., governmental decision-makers, utilities) due to, e.g., changes in the prioritization of political goals, changes in the economic framework, in actor constellations, and in public attitudes, coal-fired power plants tend to be pushed into niches or to disappear completely. ConclusionsA reasonable management of the niche technology “coal-fired power plants” could include a protection of space for ensuring a smooth removal of the links between the regime and the technology with respect to, e.g., social and environmental aspects. The phase-out pathways for the coal-fired power plants elaborated on in this paper help to better inform policy-makers to design transformation processes not only for coal-fired power but also for other declining technologies.
LB  - PUB:(DE-HGF)16
UR  - <Go to ISI:>//WOS:000441259000001
DO  - DOI:10.1186/s13705-018-0166-z
UR  - https://juser.fz-juelich.de/record/851302
ER  -