Implementing the Third Industrial Revolution : a case study of a French example

Abstract

Economic growth is now stalling in Europe and at the same time unemployment has remained at high levels for a long time. On the other hand, the United-States are posting record growth rates and enjoy low unemployment, in great part thanks to their exploitation of shale oil and gas that has provided a surge of economic activity in the sector and has benefited to the whole economy through cheaper energy. Europe cannot rely on such natural resources to restart its economy and is facing difficult times since the financial crisis. However, this problematic situation might be in fact an opportunity to renew its economic system and impulse a new wave of healthy economic activity by choosing the path of an energy transition. The underlying assumption of this thesis is that, beyond any environmental considerations, the energy transition represents an unparalleled opportunity to restore economic activity and cope with the challenges of this century. However, as beneficial as a new energy system might appear to be upfront, it definitely implies ambitious and complex transformations. This thesis explores practical ways, best practices and shortfalls to avoid to implement the energy transition by focusing on the case study of the Third Industrial Revolution (TIR) Master Plan developed in collaboration with Jeremy Rifkin in the Nord Pas-de-Calais region in France. This region has decided to implement an energy transition plan for some obvious environmental motivations, but mostly for economic and employment-related ones. The thesis explains and reviews the concept of TIR, but it mostly spends time analyzing the NPDC Master Plan itself to explore the ways it has decided to implement its energy transition. The goal is to identify best practices and successes but also mistakes and failures on the path to making the TIR a reality. Hopefully, it will be useful for other projects of this kind, with the same ambitions for other regions of the world.