Diffusion of policy innovations in the multi-level energy transition system - findings from three municipal case studies

At a local and regional level, there are various approaches in the German energy turnaround towards establishing new types of energy supply and promoting energy efficiency and energy-savings. It remains unclear how similar these approaches are and to what extent they can possibly be used to achieve climate and energy-policy goals of higher tiers of government. The question of the extent and reasons for the diffusion of innovative policy measures and concepts - or parts of them - in the energy sector of municipalities and their utility companies is of central importance to this research. Munich, Regensburg and Schönau in the Black Forest will be used as case studies. The case studies show that energy and climate policies vary considerably between municipalities and that the diffusion of innovative policies is constraint institutionally and de facto. Yet, there are various signs in all three case studies that policies diffuse nevertheless. Partially this works via municipal networks and associations, but often diffusion between municipalities occurs ad-hoc, informally or via personal ties at the administrative or political level.