Analysis of Drivers and Barriers to Sustainable Renewable Energy Transition in Iran Using the Multi-Level Perspective Approach

Anahita  Sadeghi Sabour; Aliyeh Kazemi

Authors

Anahita Sadeghi Sabour Department of Industrial Management, University of Tehran, Kish International Campus, Kish, Iran Author https://orcid.org/0009-0004-3809-2534
Aliyeh Kazemi School of Industrial and Technology Management, College of Management, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0755-7800

Keywords:

Energy transition, Renewable energy, Multi-level perspective, Sustainable development, Drivers and barriers, Iran

Abstract

The transition to renewable energy has emerged as a key priority for energy systems worldwide due to its critical role in achieving sustainable development, enhancing energy security, and mitigating the impacts of climate change. Despite Iran’s considerable potential in renewable energy resources, the development of these resources faces numerous challenges. This study aims to identify and analyze the key drivers and barriers influencing the transition to renewable energy in Iran using the multi-level perspective (MLP) approach. In this regard, after extracting relevant data, the factors affecting energy transition were categorized across three analytical levels of landscape, regime, and niche, and their roles as either drivers or barriers were examined. The findings identified 58 influential factors affecting the energy transition in Iran, including 20, 22, and 16 factors at the landscape, regime, and niche levels, respectively. The results showed that landscape-level factors, such as climate change, global decarbonization trends, energy security concerns, and international pressures, mainly act as external drivers creating momentum for the transition. At the regime level, structural barriers, including fossil fuel dependence, energy subsidies, weak financing mechanisms, institutional fragmentation, regulatory instability, and infrastructure limitations, were found to significantly constrain the diffusion of renewable energy. The niche level represented major transformative capacities through renewable energy technologies, research and development activities, knowledge-based companies, pilot projects, and technological innovation capabilities. However, these capacities remain limited by financial constraints and weaknesses in the technological supply chain. Furthermore, the findings demonstrated that the identified factors affect multiple sustainability dimensions, including economic, environmental, social, technological, and institutional and policy aspects.

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