Institutional drivers of energy infrastructure performance: A comparative examination of regulatory frameworks and public–private coordination in strategic utility sectors

Technological progress, financial investment, and institutional frameworks governing planning, guidelines, and coordination all affect the performance of energy infrastructure. This Systematic Literature Review (SLR) highlights findings from 30 studies published between 2016 and 2026 that examine institutional drivers and their effects on energy infrastructure performance. The major academic databases were then searched for studies, and the studies were analyzed within the framework of PRISMA 2020 and comparative institutional analysis. The review will cover institutional capacity, institutional governance, policy stability, regulation, and coordination between the public and private sectors in the electricity, renewable energy, natural gas, and emerging grid technologies. The results show that high-performing energy infrastructure systems are consistently linked to high institutional capacities, independent and effective regulatory bodies, stable policy environments, and well-developed processes of cooperation and collaboration between the public and private sectors. The analysis reveals that developed economies exhibit more advanced regulatory systems and regulatory coordination, whereas developing economies face problems of institutional fragmentation, weak enforcement capacity, and investment uncertainty. But good institutional design can facilitate the development of infrastructure in various economic contexts. The review suggests a framework of integrated institutional governance that connects institutional foundations, governance mechanisms, and infrastructure performance outcomes. The results have significant policy implications for the energy sector, including policymakers, regulators, utilities, and private investors planning to increase the efficiency, reliability, resilience, and sustainability of future energy infrastructure investments.