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From laggard to leader: explaining offshore wind developments in the UK

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journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-08, 17:05 authored by Florian Kern, Adrian SmithAdrian Smith, Chris Shaw, Rob Raven, Bram Verhees
Offshore wind technology has recently undergone rapid deployment in the UK. And yet, up until recently, the UK was considered a laggard in terms of deploying renewable energy. How can this burst of offshore wind activity be explained? An economic analysis would seek signs for newfound competitiveness for offshore wind in energy markets. A policy analysis would highlight renewable energy policy developments and assess their contribution to economic prospects of offshore wind. However, neither perspective sheds sufficient light on the advocacy of the actors involved in the development and deployment of the technology. Without an account of technology politics it is hard to explain continuing policy support despite rising costs. By analysing the actor networks and narratives underpinning policy support for offshore wind, we explain how a fairly effective protective space was constructed through the enroling of key political and economic interests.

Funding

The politics of low carbon innovation: towards a theory of niche protection; RES-062-23-2326; ESRC

History

Publication status

  • Published

File Version

  • Accepted version

Journal

Energy Policy

ISSN

0301-4215

Publisher

Elsevier

Volume

69

Page range

635-646

Department affiliated with

  • SPRU - Science Policy Research Unit Publications

Full text available

  • Yes

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2014-04-28

First Open Access (FOA) Date

2014-04-28

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2014-04-28

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