Geopolitics of Renewables

Renewables are a game changer for interstate energy relations. Their abundance and intermittency, possibilities for decentral generation and use of rare earth materials, and generally electric nature of transportation make them very different from fossil fuels. What do these geographic and technical characteristics of renewable energy imply for infrastructure topology and operations, business models, and energy markets? What are the consequences for the strategic realities and policy considerations of producer, transport, and consumer countries? Who are the winners and losers? The Geopolitics of Renewables is the first in-depth exploration of the implications for interstate energy relations of a transition towards renewable energy. Fourteen international scholars combine insights from international relations, geopolitics, energy security, renewable energy systems, economics, and energy policy to investigate how renewables change energy geopolitics. The book constructs a novel analytical framework comprising a series of investigative steps moving from geography to markets to politics. It then uses this framework to study the geopolitical impact of renewables along three levels of analysis: - The emerging global energy game; producer and consumer strategies - Regional and bilateral energy relations of established and rising powers - Domestic developments and energy foreign policy formation The book offers a comprehensive overview of strategic realities and policy challenges in the emerging energy game and practical illustrations and recommendations related to specific countries and regions such as the US, EU, Russia, China, India, and OPEC. It is recommended for academics and policy makers.