Comparing nuclear power trajectories in Germany and the UK: from ‘regimes' to ‘democracies’ in sociotechnical transitions and Discontinuities

This paper focuses on arguably the single most striking contrast in contemporary major energy politics in Europe (and even the developed world as a whole): the starkly differing civil nuclear policies of Germany and the UK. Germany is seeking entirely to phase out nuclear power by 2022. Yet the UK advocates a ‘nuclear renaissance’, promoting the most ambitious new nuclear construction programme in Western Europe.Here,this paper poses a simple yet quite fundamental question: what are the particular divergent conditions most strongly implicated in the contrasting developments in these two countries. With nuclear playing such an iconic role in historical discussions over technological continuity and transformation, answering this may assist in wider understandings of sociotechnical incumbency and discontinuity in the burgeoning field of‘sustainability transitions’. To this end, an ‘abductive’ approach is taken: deploying nine potentially relevant criteria for understanding the different directions pursued in Germany and the UK. Together constituted by 30 parameters spanning literatures related to socio-technical regimes in general as well as nuclear technology in particular, the criteria are divided into those that are ‘internal’ and ‘external’ to the ‘focal regime configuration’ of nuclear power and associated ‘challenger technologies’ like renewables. It is ‘internal’ criteria that are emphasised in conventional sociotechnical regime theory, with ‘external’ criteria relatively less well explored. Asking under each criterion whether attempted discontinuation of nuclear power would be more likely in Germany or the UK, a clear picture emerges. ‘Internal’ criteria suggest attempted nuclear discontinuation should be more likely in the UK than in Germany– the reverse of what is occurring. ‘External’ criteria are more aligned with observed dynamics –especially those relating to military nuclear commitments and broader ‘qualities of democracy’. Despite many differences of framing concerning exactly what constitutes ‘democracy’, a rich political science literature on this point is unanimous in characterising Germany more positively than the UK. Although based only on a single case,a potentially important question is nonetheless raised as to whether sociotechnical regime theory might usefully give greater attention to the general importance of various aspects of democracy in constituting conditions for significant technological discontinuities and transformations. If so, the policy implications are significant. A number of important areas are identified for future research, including the roles of diverse understandings and specific aspects of democracy and the particular relevance of military nuclear commitments– whose under-discussion in civil nuclear policy literatures raises its own questions of democratic accountability

China's Long-Term Low-Carbon Development Strategies and Pathways

This open access book introduces a multi-disciplinary and comprehensive research on China's long-term low-carbon emission strategies and pathways. After comprehensively considering China’s own socioeconomic conditions, policy design, energy mix, and other macro-development trends and needs, the research team has proposed suggestions on China’s low-carbon development strategies and pathways until 2050, with required technologies and policies in order to realize the goals of building a great modern socialist country and a beautiful China. These achievements are in conjunction with the climate goals set in the Paris Agreement alongside Global Sustainable Development. The authors hope that the research findings can serve as a reference for all sectors of Chinese society in their climate research efforts, offer support for the formulation and implementation of china’s national low-carbon development strategies and policies, and help the world to better understand China’s story in the general trend of global green and low-carbon development

Green business development in the field of green energy in china

JEL Classification System: M14, Q56After the experience of a worldwide economy crisis in 2008, the world is seeking a sustainable development in order to come over the depression. Pointed out by National five-year plan regarding green economy, China, with a population of over 1.4 billion people, and being the largest production countries in the world, is facing the environmental issue, industrial transformation, and energy shortage and security problem. It is about the time when Chinese enterprises step into green business. The paper went through with the theoretical concept of sustainable development, global view of green economy, the essential aspects and the stage of development of green business both in the world and in China, finally concentrated on the progressing of green energy in China. In light of exploring green business development in the enterprise root, this paper also presented a comprehensive analysis through detailed questionnaires and interviews with general managers from resources-based, green energy and its related enterprises or banks to acquire how is the national five-year plan policies regarding green economy implemented, what is the main driving force, impacts, difficulties and challenges for green business in China.Após a experienciação de uma crise económica global em 2008, o mundo está à procura de desenvolvimento sustentável de forma a ultrapassar a depressão. Apontada pelo Plano Nacional de 5 Anos de Economia Verde, a China, com uma população de cerca de 1.4 mil milhões de pessoas, e sendo um dos maiores produtores no mundo, enfrenta problemas ambientais, transformações na indústria, falhas de energia e problemas de segurança. Considerando isto, é altura das empresas chinesas entrarem nos negócios verdes. Este paper debruçou-se sobre os conceitos teóricos de desenvolvimento sustentável, dando uma vista global sobre a economia verde, desde os seus aspectos essenciais às principais fases de desenvolvimento de negócios verdes, tanto na China como no resto do mundo, focando-se finalmente na progressão da energia verde na China. Com o objectivo de explorar o desenvolvimento verde nas empresas, este paper apresenta também uma análise compreensiva através de questionários e entrevistas detalhadas com gestores de empresas e bancos baseados em recursos, energia verde e empresas relacionadas, com o intuito de perceber de que forma as políticas do Plano Nacional de 5 Anos de Economia Verde são implementadas e quais são as maiores forças impulsionadoras, impactos, dificuldades e desafios para os negócios verdes na China

A new EU energy technology policy towards 2050 : which way to go?

Each semester the THINK project publishes two research reports based on topics proposed by the European Commission.Topic 9QM-31-12-303-EN-CQM-31-12-303-EN-NChallenges for policy makers are huge if the EU climate policy goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 80-95% below 1990 levels by 2050 shall be reached. There is no doubt that a new energy technology policy design for the post-2020 period is needed, not only because the current policy framework is running out in 2020, but also because of increasing global competitive pressure in the low-carbon technology sectors. Moreover, as market actors are calling for new, transparent and lasting policy commitments now, the policy will likely be negotiated in times of financial crisis and institutional frictions in the EU, of which no one can predict its duration. To contribute to this debate and assist DG ENER in preparing a new Communication on ‘Energy Technologies in a future European Energy Policy’, this THINK report develops and discusses possible paths for a renewed EU energy technology policy towards 2050. We give recommendations for a renewed post-2020 SET Plan and European technology push taking into account that the policy context is uncertain and that not all possible futures are recognized in the EU Energy Roadmap 2050 yet.The THINK project (2010-2013) is funded by the European Commission under the Seventh Framework Programme, Strategic Energy Technology Plan. (Call FP7-ENERGY-2009-2, Grant Agreement no: 249736). Coordinator: Prof. Jean-Michel Glachant and Dr. Leonardo Meeus, Florence School of Regulation, Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies, European University Institute

Ocean Energy in Belgium - 2019

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