Decarbonizing energy: Mapping and modelling the global energy sector's Asset owners, investment choices, technological pathways, and Political influence

ongoing

The urgent need for rapid decarbonization of the global energy sector to meet Paris Agreement goals requires more robust policies based on a deep understanding of the sector’s key economic actors, investment decisions and incentives, and influence on policymaking. However, these factors have not yet been thoroughly studied. The MAP project addresses this critical research gap by examining, at the global level, primary energy supply firms' physical investment, categorized by technology - dirty, clean, or options like CCS potentially diverting resources from cleaner alternatives. These investments will be traced to the firms’ ultimate owners, whether governments or shareholders. Additionally, MAP will analyze how ownership, control, and board structures influence energy and climate policies. Ultimately, the project aims to identify the most effective policy mixes for achieving rapid decarbonization of energy, considering these dynamics. MAP will employ empirical, econometric and network analysis to study investment patterns, ownership structures, and their influence on climate and energy policymaking. It will also develop an agent-based model to simulate policy scenarios and assess policies' effectiveness. The project will provide insights into energy decarbonization's industrial and political economy dimensions by integrating economics, network analysis, energy system modelling, and political science. Hosted at UniCA within a leading multidisciplinary research group and supervised by Prof. Mauro Napoletano, an expert in agent-based models and network analysis, the project will produce cutting-edge research. The fellow, expert in climate economics, innovation, and concentration, will contribute to the group's research and knowledge exchange. This fellowship will broaden the applicant's expertise, research capabilities - enhanced through advanced courses at UniCA - and professional networks, positioning her for a tenured role at a leading EU institution.