Defining and conceptualising energy policy failure: The when, where, why, and how

The paper highlights the key literature on energy failures such as collapsed incentives, abandoned projects, mistakes, wrong paths, and bad decisions. It analyses some of the key causes and consequences of these energy policy failures, and aims to offer a solution for resolving them that meets the requirements of the just energy transition. At the heart of the paper’s solution is the aim of furthering more fairness, equality, equity and inclusiveness into energy project decision-making, so that justice is at the center of energy project development. Ensuring that this is the case will reduce a whole variety of project risks, result in successful project completion and reduce the possibility of energy policy failure, as society moves from the energy transition into net zero frameworks.