The governance of innovation diffusion - A socio-technical analysis of energy policy

Abstract

This paper analyses risk and uncertainty in the governance of UK energy policy and regulation. The UK's current planning system is unfavourable towards certain types of onshore renewable energy technologies. As a result, the UK is running the risk of retaining a comparatively small amount of its expenditure on the diffusion of renewable energy technologies both nationally and locally. This is contextualised within the broader framework of decarbonisation, transnational renewable energy targets and the lock-in associated with large infrastructures such as the energy system.</p