Temporal dynamics of infrasystem transition: The case of electricity system transition in Japan

Abstract

While a multi-level perspective on system innovation offers an analytical tool for explaining the role of landscape development and niche innovations in a transition of infrasystems toward sustainability, it has limitations in capturing hard-fought, inter- and intra-scalar contestations, and thus in exploring the role of governance structure and institution in a transition.Against this background, this paper aims to explore how the temporal dimension have influenced market competition, power and interpretation, and the dynamics of electricity systems in a welfare state by examining Japan as a case study.Our conclusions are as follows. First, periods of possessing and exercising power are important, both in terms of reinforcing the current infrasystem and in moving it toward a sustainable pathway. The longer that incumbents and their alliance possess and exercise power, the deeper that infrasystems can be embedded into society and the narrower the space created by landscape pressures becomes for developing niche innovators. Second, long time dominance of incumbents and its alliance in power enables them to capitalize on landscape pressures to reinforce them, realigning the currently unsustainable electricity system while to prevent niche innovations from sufficiently developed as reliable alternatives. Third, long time dominance can change the extent of feedback effects in policy instruments and institutional reform, weakening driving force for transition to sustainability.