A Struggle of Multi-level Governance: Promoting Renewable Energy in Indonesia

A shift towards renewable energy is a complex, multi-dimensional policy goal that involves national and subnational actors within a multi-level governance system – especially in heavily decentralized countries like Indonesia. This leads to the following research question: How does the multi-level governance framework in a decentralized country like Indonesia affect efforts for a transition towards renewable energy? The country serves as a case study due to its highly decentralized political system. This qualitative research is especially based on interviews with relevant national and subnational stakeholders. Transition management is used as a theoretical framework. This paper concludes that weak local capacity, a lack of awareness for national intentions on subnational levels and vice versa as well as missing consultation during policy formulation are major obstacles for renewables support in Indonesia.