Transformation Toward Clean Energy in the Middle East: A Multilevel Perspective

Abstract

The global energy sector is going through a radical change of its well-established systems. Global efforts to mitigate climate change effects, changes in the economics of hydrocarbon energy sources, and technological developments led to a global transition to renewable energy sources. The Middle East region is not an exception. During the last decade, the region witnessed the launch of successful renewable energy projects, especially in the electricity sector. They are mainly solar energy projects. The decline in the cost of solar panels and the good potential for solar energy in the region, in addition to economic challenges because of low oil prices and increasing population and urbanization, contributed to the case of transformation toward clean energy in the region. However, this transformation is in its early stages and requires careful planning and coordination of actions and policies from various parties at different levels. In this chapter, transformation toward clean energy in the Middle East is discussed as a sociotechnical change and analysed through the multilevel perspective theoretical approach. Different factors which affect the transformation are identified at the three levels of landscape, regime, and niche that need to be coordinated and aligned to ensure a successful transition.