Entrepreneurship in the renewable energy sector: A systematic literature review of types, characteristics, and sustainability impacts

IF 16.3 1区工程技术 Q1 ENERGY & FUELS

Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews Pub Date : 2025-01-28 DOI:10.1016/j.rser.2025.115337

D. Bendig , L. Brüss , F. Degen

{"title":"Entrepreneurship in the renewable energy sector: A systematic literature review of types, characteristics, and sustainability impacts","authors":"D. Bendig , L. Brüss , F. Degen","doi":"10.1016/j.rser.2025.115337","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Despite the potential impact and critical nature of entrepreneurship on decarbonization and energy justice, interdisciplinary research in this field is still scarce. Start-ups in the renewable energy sector require special academic attention due to their significant impact on sustainability and the challenges these ventures face, which are deeply rooted in the complex and high-barrier nature of the sector. Using a systematic approach, an initial sample of over 2600 academic articles was collected and narrowed down to 142 relevant articles focused on entrepreneurship in the renewable energy sector, which were analyzed in detail. Based on this comprehensive review, the entrepreneurship literature has been categorized into three types, each characterized by its unique features and sustainability implications. The in-depth content analysis revealed that the literature deals extensively with developing and implementing new decarbonization technologies, but transformative approaches are neglected, depending on the type of entrepreneurship. This review shows that numerous success factors for entrepreneurship in the renewable energy sector have been identified, and their targeted promotion and implementation are crucial for further development. The results form the basis for a new framework that highlights antecedents, success factors, and outcomes of technology entrepreneurship in the renewable energy sector. This cross-disciplinary review contributes to the existing literature by providing a comprehensive research agenda for this emerging field to pave the way for future empirically based entrepreneurship studies in this sector.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":418,"journal":{"name":"Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews","volume":"212 ","pages":"Article 115337"},"PeriodicalIF":16.3000,"publicationDate":"2025-01-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews","FirstCategoryId":"1","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1364032125000103","RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"ENERGY & FUELS","Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Abstract

Despite the potential impact and critical nature of entrepreneurship on decarbonization and energy justice, interdisciplinary research in this field is still scarce. Start-ups in the renewable energy sector require special academic attention due to their significant impact on sustainability and the challenges these ventures face, which are deeply rooted in the complex and high-barrier nature of the sector. Using a systematic approach, an initial sample of over 2600 academic articles was collected and narrowed down to 142 relevant articles focused on entrepreneurship in the renewable energy sector, which were analyzed in detail. Based on this comprehensive review, the entrepreneurship literature has been categorized into three types, each characterized by its unique features and sustainability implications. The in-depth content analysis revealed that the literature deals extensively with developing and implementing new decarbonization technologies, but transformative approaches are neglected, depending on the type of entrepreneurship. This review shows that numerous success factors for entrepreneurship in the renewable energy sector have been identified, and their targeted promotion and implementation are crucial for further development. The results form the basis for a new framework that highlights antecedents, success factors, and outcomes of technology entrepreneurship in the renewable energy sector. This cross-disciplinary review contributes to the existing literature by providing a comprehensive research agenda for this emerging field to pave the way for future empirically based entrepreneurship studies in this sector.

Abstract Image

查看原文本刊更多论文

求助全文

约1分钟内获得全文求助全文

来源期刊

Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 工程技术-能源与燃料

CiteScore

31.20

自引率

5.70%

发文量

1055

审稿时长

62 days

期刊介绍： The mission of Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews is to disseminate the most compelling and pertinent critical insights in renewable and sustainable energy, fostering collaboration among the research community, private sector, and policy and decision makers. The journal aims to exchange challenges, solutions, innovative concepts, and technologies, contributing to sustainable development, the transition to a low-carbon future, and the attainment of emissions targets outlined by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews publishes a diverse range of content, including review papers, original research, case studies, and analyses of new technologies, all featuring a substantial review component such as critique, comparison, or analysis. Introducing a distinctive paper type, Expert Insights, the journal presents commissioned mini-reviews authored by field leaders, addressing topics of significant interest. Case studies undergo consideration only if they showcase the work's applicability to other regions or contribute valuable insights to the broader field of renewable and sustainable energy. Notably, a bibliographic or literature review lacking critical analysis is deemed unsuitable for publication.