Analyse comparative des facteurs influençant l’adoption des énergies renouvelables en Europe et en Amérique du Nord

Thesis Abstract

This study investigates the comparative determinants shaping the adoption of renewable energy technologies across Europe and North America, addressing persistent variations in policy efficacy, market dynamics, and socio-technical readiness that influence deployment speeds and scale. The problem stems from inconsistent integration of renewables despite shared climate commitments, suggesting that contextual factors—policy design, regulatory risk, financial incentives, public acceptance, and institutional capacity—modulate the transition differently across regions. The aim is to identify and compare the relative importance of these factors, and to assess how regional institutional contexts mediate their effects on adoption outcomes. Specific objectives include (i) to map the policy instruments, financial mechanisms, and regulatory environments in selected European countries (Germany, Spain, and Denmark) and North American jurisdictions (Germany’s comparative North American peers United States states California and New York; Canada’s Ontario and Quebec); (ii) to quantify the influence of policy certainty, capital costs, grid integration capabilities, and social license on renewable energy project capacities; (iii) to examine the moderating role of governance quality, market structure, and public opinion on stated relationships; and (iv) to synthesize cross-regional best practices for accelerating adoption while mitigating barriers. The methodological design adopts a cross-sectional, mixed-methods approach combining quantitative regression analysis with qualitative case study insights. The population comprises renewable energy projects and supporting policy instruments implemented within the last decade across the selected jurisdictions. A purposive sampling strategy identifies 60 representative projects (20 per region) spanning solar, wind, and onshore/offshore configurations, complemented by a policy interview subset of 30 policymakers, regulators, and industry executives. Data collection instruments include standardized project performance and policy environment questionnaires, archival data from governmental and industry reports, and semi-structured interviews guided by a framework integrating multiple theories. Validity and reliability are ensured through triangulation, pilot testing of instruments, and inter-rater reliability checks for qualitative coding. Analytically, the study employs multiple regression and hierarchical linear modeling to test hypotheses about the impact of policy certainty (stable feed-in tariffs, auction design), financial incentives (tax credits, subsidies, loan guarantees), grid readiness (transmission capacity, storage integration), and social acceptance (policy legitimacy, public support) on project deployment rates and capacity factors. Factor analysis will be used to reduce dimensionality of policy and market variables, while interaction terms will assess cross-regional moderating effects of governance quality (rule of law, regulatory independence) and market structure (competitive markets vs. regulated monopolies). For qualitative data, thematic analysis will extract cross-cutting patterns in stakeholder perceptions and contextual drivers, with a comparative synthesis that aligns empirical findings with theoretical predictions. The theoretical framework anchors on the Technology-Organization-Environment (TOE) framework, complemented by the Regulatory Institutionalism theory and the Innovation Diffusion framework to interpret adoption dynamics in heterogeneous governance landscapes. Expected findings anticipate that policy certainty and market maturity exert the strongest direct effects on adoption, with the magnitude of influence moderated by governance quality and public acceptance. Grid readiness is expected to be a critical constraint in both regions, yet mitigated differently by storage solutions and interconnections. The study should reveal region-specific modal preferences, such as greater reliance on auctions in Europe and performance-based incentives in parts of North America, while identifying effective combinations of policy design and financial instruments that correlate with higher capacity additions and improved efficiency. The study contributes to knowledge by providing a robust cross-regional, evidence-based synthesis of determinants shaping renewable energy adoption, highlighting how institutional and market contexts condition the effectiveness of policy instruments. It offers policy-makers and industry leaders a decision-support framework for tailoring instruments to regional contexts, and identifies transferable best practices, potential pitfalls, and indicators for monitoring progress. Practical recommendations include designing credible multi-year policy signals, aligning grid development with renewable deployment timelines, and fostering public engagement strategies to secure social license. The conclusion discusses implications for regional energy transitions, suggesting integrated policy packages that reconcile financial viability, regulatory certainty, and social acceptability to accelerate renewable energy diffusion across diverse North American and European contexts.