CEU Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2021
| Author | Balsiunaite, Rimante |
|---|---|
| Title | A Future Brighter than the Sun: Improving Public Support for Solar Energy Early-stage Startups in Lithuania |
| Summary | To reach net-zero of GHG emissions and limit the global temperature rise to 1.5 °C, the increased capacity of clean energy is needed. One of the main drivers of clean energy is solar energy. Despite the price reduction, solar energy still lacks innovation to increase efficiency and applicability. Solar energy innovation is essential for countries with a low gross domestic product and high energy dependency, such as Lithuania. However, building solar energy innovation requires resources and long-term support in the early stage of development, often lacking from the private sector due to the high risk and long-time of return of investments. This thesis advances the understanding of the public support of the early-stage solar energy startups. It provides policy recommendations for improving the public support mechanisms in the upcoming European Cohesion Policy and European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) programming period (2021-2027) to increase solar energy innovation capacity. Using a pilot project, this thesis seeks to answer three research questions: (1) What kind of support for the early-stage solar energy startups exist in Lithuania, and how can it be improved? (2) How can the public financial support for solar energy early-stage startups be improved based on the needs of startups? (3) How can the public support mechanisms for the early-stage solar energy startups be improved for the upcoming ESIF programming period? The thesis concludes that Lithuania‘s public support for solar energy early-stage startups is limited due to the high eligibility criteria, lack of mentorship programs, and collaboration spaces. |
| Supervisor | LaBelle, Michael; Novikova, Aleksandra |
| Department | Environment Sciences and Policy MSc |
| Full text | https://www.etd.ceu.edu/2021/balsiunaite_rimante.pdf |
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