Transitioning through markets

This chapter offers a critical examination of the conduct of market-based energy transition. Drawing on four case studies from France - tree stumps as conventional fuelwood, non-residential PV production, the development of ‘smart home’ infrastructure, and the market valuation of residential load shedding – the chapter takes a market studies approach and offers fine-grained accounts of how markets work in practice. Unsurprisingly, the four cases presented here illustrate ways in which markets can lead to positive or negative outcomes in both energy change achievements and participation in steering these changes. They suggest that the potential of markets in relationship to the energy transition depend notably on what the state decides to make of them