Energy Planning And Policy In A Politicized World

Abstract

Energy Planning and Policy is characterised by some particular features. It is highly technical but also possesses a strong political element, it has economic implications and environmental repercussions and the impact of policies extends into the future constraining coming decisions. The assumptions commonly underlying energy plans and policies are restricting and affect the quality of the outcomes. In this paper a framework for energy planning and policy by the government is proposed; it gears long and short run considerations, reduces uncertainty through sequential decision making, and consultations, and improves the compatibility of energy plans and policies with non-energy objectives. Thus, the robustness, adaptability and the likelihood of full realisation of energy plans and policies increases.