Policy mixes and the policy learning process of energy transitions: Insights from the feed-in tariff policy and urban community solar in Hong Kong

Effectiveness of renewable energy feed-in tariff (FiT) varies across the world. Designing policy mixes of a package of policy instruments to optimise the normative effect of FiT is critical but has remained challenging and understudied. This paper brings together the key concepts of policy mixes and policy learning to examine how the effectiveness of renewable energy policies can be improved, with reference to a recent FiT policy in Hong Kong focusing two prospective solar communities. Based on 99 in-depth interviews and workshop discussions involving 57 householders, we found that FiT was an effective policy in stimulating growth of new solar photovoltaic (PV) projects in some sub-sectors in Hong Kong, but has not yet mainstreamed solar at the community and city levels. The FiT was insufficient to address multiple non-economic barriers perceived by householders. The limited policy impacts of the FiT indicated that policy makers were able to attain technical learning, but faced major constraints in advancing to conceptual and social forms of policy learning. This paper concludes that policy makers should give closer attention to policy mixes and advanced forms of policy learning than choosing a single most effective policy instrument to unlock the under-used community solar potentials.

Automated summary

The effectiveness of renewable energy feed-in tariffs varies globally. This paper examines how to improve the effectiveness of renewable energy policies, with a focus on a recent FiT policy in Hong Kong. It found that while FiT was effective in stimulating growth in certain sectors, it faced challenges in mainstreaming solar energy in communities and cities due to non-economic barriers perceived by householders.