Developing the renewable energy sector is a major societal challenge to limit climate change. This study departs from the postulate that the collaboration between private companies and non-for-profit organizations (non-governmental organizations, associations, public universities and research institutions, governmental agencies etc.) is a fertile ground for the implementation of projects aiming the production of renewable energy. But the reality of these collaborations is poorly known. The aim of this study is two-folded: firstly, it aims to empirically explore inter-organizational collaboration between companies and non-for-profit organizations in the renewable energy sector, in order to give a panorama of such collaborations worldwide. Secondly, it raises the question of success factors of these collaborations. The empirical data on which this research is based is secondary data collected on the internet. Company and organizational reports describing such collaborations were identified mainly through funding agencies, but also through open search. Qualitative data on 30 cases has thereby been collected and gives substance to the first objective of this study. To answer the question raised as the second and main objective, concerning success factors of inter-organizational collaboration, the method of Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) was used to study tests a simplified model including three categories of success factors. We aimed to find out what combinations of conditions lead to successful projects. Advantage of QCA lies the possibility to combine the richness of qualitative data with systematic cross-case comparison. Additionally, unlike statistical analysis, QCA allows the identification of multiple causal pathways which leads to outcome. This study tests whether three conditions (incentives to collaborate, conflict over national resources, international collaboration) influence the success of renewable energy projects the absence of conflicts over national resources is a sufficient condition for success. The ideal configuration for successful collaboration includes the presence of incentives, the absence of conflict, and an international composition of collaborative actors.
