Competition, coordination, or institutional change? A multi-perspective analysis of historical electricity transitions in Mexico. (February 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Castrejon-Campos, Omar; Aye, Lu; Kin Peng Hui, Felix
• Is Part Of: Energy research & social science. Volume 84(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-02
• Subjects: CFE Federal Electricity Commission (Comisión Federal de Electricidad) -- CIDE Centre for Economic Research and Teaching (Centro de Investigación y Docencia Económicas) -- CLyF Mexican Light and Power Company (Compañía de Luz y Fuerza) -- CNEN National Nuclear Energy Commission (Comisión Nacional de Energía Nuclear) -- CNFM National Power Commission (Comisión Nacional de Fuerza Motriz) -- CNSNS National Commission for Nuclear Safety and Safeguards (Comisión Nacional de Seguridad Nuclear y Salvaguardias) -- CO2-e carbon dioxide equivalent -- CONACYT National Council of Science and Technology (Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología) -- CONAE National Energy Saving Commission (Comisión Nacional para el Ahorro de Energía) -- CONUEE National Commission for the Efficient Use of Energy (Comisión Nacional para el Uso Eficiente de la Energía) -- CPP cogeneration power producer -- CRE Energy Regulatory Commission (Comisión Reguladora de Energía) -- CSS continuous self-supply -- CUF Committee for the Unification of Frequencies (Comité de Unificación de Frecuencia) -- FH Hydrocarbons Fund (Fondo de Hidrocarburos) -- FIDE Trust for the Saving of Electric Energy (Fideicomiso para el Ahorro de Energía Eléctrica) -- FSE Energy Sustainability Fund (Fondo de Sustentabilidad Energética) -- GDP gross domestic product -- GHG greenhouse gas -- GI governing interactions -- GS governance system -- IER Institute of Renewable Energy (Instituto de Energías Renovables) -- IIE Electricity Research Institute (Instituto de Investigaciones Eléctricas) -- IINGEN Institute of Engineering (Instituto de Ingeniería) -- INECC National Institute of Ecology and Climate Change (Instituto Nacional de Ecología y Cambio Climático) -- INEEL National Institute of Electricity and Clean Energy (Instituto Nacional de Electricidad y Energías Limpias) -- ININ National Institute for Nuclear Research (Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Nucleares) -- IPP independent power producer -- kW kilowatts -- LAERFTE Use of Renewable Energy and the Financing of the Energy Transition Law (Ley para el Aprovechamiento de Energías Renovables y el Financiamiento de la Transición Energética) -- LASE Sustainable Use of Energy Law (Ley para el Aprovechamiento Sustentable de la Energía) -- LGCC General Climate Change Law (Ley General sobre Cambio Climático) -- LGEEPA General Law for the Ecological Equilibrium and Protection of the Environment (Ley General del Equilibrio Ecológico y la Protección al Ambiente) -- LUCF land use change and forestry -- MW megawatts -- NAFTA North American Free Trade Agreement -- NGCC natural gas combined cycle -- NGT natural gas turbine -- NOx oxides of nitrogen -- OECD Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development -- PAESE Energy Saving Program for the Electricity Sector (Programa de Ahorro de Energía del Sector Eléctrico) -- PE power exports -- PEMEX Mexican Petroleum (Petróleos Mexicanos) -- PI power imports -- PPA power purchase agreement -- PRISMA Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses -- PSS power self-supply -- PV photovoltaic -- R&D research and development -- RD&D Research, development, and demonstration -- SE Secretariat of Economy (Secretaría de Economía) -- SEMIP Secretariat of Energy, Mining and Parastatic Industry (Secretaría de Energía, Minas e Industria Paraestatal) -- SEN National Electricity System (Sistema Eléctrico Nacional) -- SENER Secretariat of Energy (Secretaría de Energía) -- SG system-to-be-governed -- SME Mexican Electricity Labour Union (Sindicato Mexicano de Electricistas) -- SOx oxides of sulphur -- SPP small power producer -- UAM Metropolitan Autonomous University (Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana) -- UK United Kingdom -- UNAM National Autonomous University of Mexico (Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México) -- UNFCCC United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change -- US United States; Governability -- Interactive governance -- Energy transitions -- Multi-perspective analysis -- Electricity sector -- Mexico; Power resources -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Energy consumption -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; 333.7905
• DOI: 10.1016/j.erss.2021.102362
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2214-6296

Abstract

Highlights: Electricity transitions under the interactive governance approach was investigated. The system-to-be-governed was conceptualised as a socio-techno-economic system. Policy paradigm shifts have influenced governance decisions in Mexico. Available energy resources have affected the electricity transitions in Mexico. Climate change concerns have modified the electricity sector development in Mexico. Abstract: The electricity sector is a complex dynamic system that has experienced continuous changes since its beginning. The aim of this article is to explore the evolution of historical electricity transitions in Mexico from 1879 to 2012 under the interactive governance approach. Governability provides an analytical framework for investigating the role of actors, technologies, and policies in national energy transitions. By integrating a multi-perspective analytical framework, we applied concepts from energy transitions and policy mixes for sustainability transitions to qualitatively describe social, economic, and technological changes and their relative role in historical transitions. The case study revealed that governability of national energy transitions may vary considerably from one episode to another depending on how governance systems have handled national societal needs and international cooperation agreements. Additionally, different drivers have been identified in shaping electricity transitions in Mexico. First, governance decisions have depended on specific (policy) paradigms that relevant actors have adopted. Second, the article highlights the key role that available (indigenous) energy resources have played in directing the path and pace of electricity production technologies. Third, increasing environmental and climate change concerns have improved the way electricity is produced and used. The analysis conducted suggests that energy transitions governability may be improved by fostering communication and cooperation among actors and institutions to define policy mixes in line with societal needs.