The primary force driving renewable energy deployment in Scotland has been the regional economic development strategy, which aims to transition to a low carbon economy. Scotland has considerable autonomy in energy and rural development policy and this has benefited its renewable energy strategy.
The energy sector is a pillar of Québec’s regional competitiveness, and the province is also making investments to improve its specialisation in renewable energy.
This case study concentrates on the island of Lolland in the Region Zealand in Denmark, home to 46,000 people. It used to be a manufacturing and agricultural powerhouse due to its shipbuilding industry and intensive sugar beet production, supported by Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) subsidies.
North Karelia (NK) in Finland is a forerunner in the field of sustainable energy. Being a remote region with extremely cold winters, NK requires a lot of heating, but energy is expensive to import. In these conditions, the region’s vast wood reserves offer clear potential for fuel wood.
Renewable energy offers Prince Edward Island (PEI) a local source of power that is competitive with imported power. Because the island has no fossil fuel reserves and no opportunities for hydroelectric power, electricity has always been expensive.
Azerbaijan has made significant strides in improving its economy over the past decade, as it embarked on a market-based economy and recovered from a significant downturn following the breakup of the Soviet Union. As a result, the government is now looking to implement a policy for country’s transition to a low-carbon, resource efficient and socially inclusive economy. This study presents an assessment of Azerbaijan’s economy, looking at ways that will foster such transition.