Policy mixes for incumbency: the destructive recreation of renewable energy, shale gas 'fracking,' and nuclear power in the United Kingdom

The notion of a ‘policy mix’ can describe interactions across a wide range of innovation policies, including ‘motors for creation’ as well as for ‘destruction’. This paper focuses on the United Kingdom’s (UK) ‘new policy direction’ that has weakened support for renewables and energy efficiency schemes while strengthening promotion of nuclear power and hydraulic fracturing for natural gas (‘fracking’). The paper argues that a ‘policy apparatus for incumbency’ is emerging which strengthens key regimebased technologies while arguably damaging emerging niche innovations. Basing the discussion around the three technology-based cases of renewable energy and efficiency, fracking, and nuclear power, this paper refers to this process as “destructive recreation”. Our study raises questions over the extent to which policymaking in the energy field is not so much driven by stated aims around sustainability transitions, as by other policy drivers. It investigates different ‘strategies of incumbency’ including ‘securitization’, ‘masking’, ‘reinvention’, and ‘capture.’ It suggests that analytical frameworks should extend beyond the particular sectors in focus, with notions of what counts as a relevant ‘policy maker’ correspondingly also expanded, in order to explore a wider range of nodes and critical junctures as entry points for understanding how relations of incumbency are forged and reproduced

Quarterly technical progress report for period ending ... /

"SCNC" (Series) "Metallurgy and Ceramics""Contract AT-30-1 Gen-366"Mode of access: Internet.This bibliographic record is available under the Creative Commons CC0 "No Rights Reserved" license. The University of Florida Libraries, as creator of this bibliographic record, has waived all rights to it worldwide under copyright law, including all related and neighboring rights, to the extent allowed by law.Latest issue consulted: SCNC-309 (Mar. 31, 1960)Description based on: SCNC-306 (Dec. 31, 1959); title from title page

A guide to the calculation of criticality limits for enriched uranium /

"Contract No. AT 06-63380.""Nuclear Science Engineering Corp."--Cover."Criticality Studies.""January 8, 1957."Mode of access: Internet.This bibliographic record is available under the Creative Commons CC0 "No Rights Reserved" license. The University of Florida Libraries, as creator of this bibliographic record, has waived all rights to it worldwide under copyright law, including all related and neighboring rights, to the extent allowed by law

Public information circular for shipments of irradiated reactor fuel.

"NUREG-0725.""Date published: July 1981."Mode of access: Internet

Hard gamma emitters among fission fragments /

May 3, 1951"ANP-59"Includes bibliographical references.Mode of access: Internet

A method for standardization of gallium⁷² /

"October 4, 1951 [TIS Issuance Date].""ORO-44."Includes bibliographical references (page 5).Work performed by the Oak Ridge Institute of Nuclear Studies under contract no. :Mode of access: Internet

Nuclear power plant fire protection : fire barriers (subsystems study task 3) /

Manuscript submitted January 1979, published September 1979.Prepared for Engineering Methodology Standards Branch, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, under interagency agreement DOE 40-550-75, NRC FIN no. A-1080.Performing organization: Sandia Laboratories.Includes bibliographical references.Mode of access: Internet

Methods for evaluating the leak tightness of spent fuel container closures /

"UCRL-52738.""NUREG/CR-1312.""NRC FIN no. A-0117.""Lawrence Livermore Laboratory.""Date published: March 1980."Includes bibliographical references.Mode of access: Internet

Transportation of radioactive material in Illinois, June 6, 1977 - June 6, 1978 /

"NUREG/CR-0756.""Date published: April 1979."Mode of access: Internet

Radiation exposure and risk estimates for inhaled airborne radioactive pollutants including hot particles : annual progress report July 1, 1976-June 30, 1977 /

Manuscript completed January 1978, published March 1978.Prepared for Division of Safeguards, Fuel Cycle, and Environmental Research, Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research under contract no. E(29-2)--1013.Includes bibliographical references.Mode of access: Internet