Florian Kern | University of Sussex (original) (raw)
Papers by Florian Kern
Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 2014
This paper engages with recent research concerning the roles of niche spaces in the strategic man... more This paper engages with recent research concerning the roles of niche spaces in the strategic management of sustainable innovations. Whilst a growing body of empirical investigation looks to developments within these spaces, it is surprising how little pauses to consider how the spaces themselves develop over time, what constitutes these spaces, and how their characteristics influence sustainable innovation. We explore such questions through a case study into the history of solar photovoltaic electricity generation over the last 40 years in the UK. Whilst we see evidence consistent with recent ideas about niche spaces shielding, nurturing, and empowering sustainable innovation, the main thrust of our analysis concludes that this arises in contested and compromised ways. Moreover, our analysis identifies niche space developing through the political ability of technology advocates recursively interpreting, representing, and negotiating between the content and contexts of innovation.
regulation.upf.edu
The rise of a transitions discourse in Dutch environmental policy is analysed. This new approach ... more The rise of a transitions discourse in Dutch environmental policy is analysed. This new approach to environmental policy seeks radically more sustainable socio-technical systems. As such, its agenda constitutes the latest twist in attempts at ecological modernisation, aiming to decouple economic growth from harmful environmental degradation. The coalescence and influence of a transitions discourse coalition, which has helped shape national environmental policy planning in recent years, is contextualised ...
Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2013
This paper reviews the developments of solar photovoltaic (PV) technology in The Netherlands. Des... more This paper reviews the developments of solar photovoltaic (PV) technology in The Netherlands. Despite the recent boom in PV industries and its global deployment, The Netherlands has up to now not experienced major growth in the diffusion of PV electricity generation. But this is only part of the story. This paper focuses on the question why PV is still around in The Netherlands at all despiteits, at times, harsh policy and socio-economic contexts. It builds upon a recently developed framework from the field of transition studies that distinguishes between shielding, nurturing and empowerment of sustainable innovations. A descriptive historical review is combined with an analysis of niche space that shows how PV advocates have been able to strategically secure and shape protective measures over four decades in the context of harsh regime selection environments. The paper suggests how further analyses using this shielding-nurturing-empowerment framework can benefit from this exploratory study into PV innovation in The Netherlands.
Paper for the Earth Systems Governance conference in Amsterdam, May 1, 2007
The rise of a transitions discourse in Dutch environmental policy is analysed. This new approach ... more The rise of a transitions discourse in Dutch environmental policy is analysed. This new approach to environmental policy seeks radically more sustainable sociotechnical systems. As such, its agenda constitutes the latest twist in attempts at ecological modernisation, aiming to decouple economic growth from harmful environmental degradation. The coalescence and influence of a transitions discourse coalition, which has helped shape national environmental policy planning in recent years, is contextualised ...
The rise of a transitions discourse in Dutch environmental policy is analysed. This new approach ... more The rise of a transitions discourse in Dutch environmental policy is analysed. This new approach to environmental policy seeks radically more sustainable socio-technical systems. As such, its agenda constitutes the latest twist in attempts at ecological modernisation, aiming to decouple economic growth from harmful environmental degradation. The coalescence and influence of a transitions discourse coalition, which has helped shape national environmental policy planning in recent years, is contextualised and analysed. Its limited success in i nstitutionalising procedures for structural change in the energy domain suggests ecological modernisation remains elusive.
Energy Policy, 2008
Increasingly, researchers and policy-makers are confronting the challenge of restructuring energy... more Increasingly, researchers and policy-makers are confronting the challenge of restructuring energy systems into more sustainable forms. A 'transition management' model, and its adoption in the Netherlands, is attracting attention. Starting with the socio-technical multi-level theory that informs transition management, we analyse the 'energy transition' project carried out by the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs. Despite considerable achievements, their approach risks capture by the incumbent energy regime, thereby undermining original policy ambitions for structural innovation of the energy system. This experience presents generic dilemmas for transitions approaches.
Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions, 2015
ABSTRACT In the sustainability transitions literature the idea of ‘protective space’ shielding ni... more ABSTRACT In the sustainability transitions literature the idea of ‘protective space’ shielding niche innovations from unfriendly selection environments is a fundamental concept. Few studies pause to consider how and by whom such protective space is created, maintained or expanded. The paper develops three propositions to deepen our understanding of the ‘outward-oriented socio-political work’ performed by technology advocates. The paper conducts a meta-analysis of six low-carbon technology case studies in the UK and The Netherlands. In each case, analysis finds the cases relevant to the propositions, but requiring finer nuance and further development.
Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technology is considered key to mitigating climate change by int... more Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technology is considered key to mitigating climate change by international institutions and governments around the world. The technology is considered advantageous because it may enable the continued utilization of fossil fuels while curbing carbon emissions. However, development of the technology remains slow on the ground. It is generally argued that large-scale, integrated demonstration projects are needed as a next step toward commercialization. Despite government support in several countries, few projects exist so far worldwide. This paper asks why it is so difficult to get demonstration projects off the ground. The argument is that it is not only project-specific factors that determine the feasibility of demonstration, but given the need for government support, a variety of political economy factors influence decision-making processes by policy makers and companies. The paper introduces an analytical framework developed on the basis of the political economy literature that considers six sets of factors that influence outcomes. It discusses two specific projects, Longannet in the UK and Quest in Canada, and explains why one failed and the other one is under construction. The analysis shows that although climate change has been a more important policy concern in the UK compared to Canada, the specific political economy situation of fossil fuel rich provinces like Alberta has led to the Quest project going forward.
Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 2012
Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is seen as a key technology to tackle climate change. The princi... more Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is seen as a key technology to tackle climate change. The principal idea of CCS is to remove carbon from the flue gases arising from burning fuels for electricity generation or industrial applications and to store the carbon in geological formations to prevent it from entering the atmosphere. Policy makers in several countries are supportive of the technology, but a number of uncertainties hamper its further development and deployment. The paper makes three related contributions to the literatures on sociotechnical systems and technology assessment: 1) It systematically develops an interdisciplinary framework to assess the main uncertainties of CCS innovation. These include technical, economic, financial, political and societal issues. 2) It identifies important linkages between these uncertainties. 3) It develops qualitative and quantitative indicators for assessing these uncertainties. This framework aims to help decision making on CCS by private and public actors and is designed to be applicable to a wider range of low carbon technologies. The paper is based on a systematic review of the social science literature on CCS and on insights from innovation studies, as well as on interviews about assessment of new technologies with experts from a range of organisations and sectors.
Policy & Politics, 42:4, pp. 513-530, Oct 2014
This paper contributes to the literature on institutional change by creating a framework that bot... more This paper contributes to the literature on institutional change by creating a framework that both measures and explains policy change. The framework is then applied to UK energy policy from 2000 to 2012 and finds that a policy paradigm change has occurred. Contrary to expectations in the literature, however, the process of change has been informed by multiple narratives and the new governance system is complex and incoherent. The analysis also finds that there has been relatively little shift in how energy systems operate suggesting shortcomings in a conceptual focus on institutional change over outcomes.
This paper engages with recent research concerning the roles of niche spaces in the strategic man... more This paper engages with recent research concerning the roles of niche spaces in the strategic management of sustainable innovations. Whilst a growing body of empirical investigation looks to developments within these spaces, it is surprising how little pauses to consider how the spaces themselves develop over time, what constitutes these spaces, and how their characteristics influence sustainable innovation. We explore such questions through a case study into the history of solar photovoltaic electricity generation over the last 40 years in the UK. Whilst we see evidence consistent with recent ideas about niche spaces shielding, nurturing, and empowering sustainable innovation, the main thrust of our analysis concludes that this arises in contested and compromised ways. Moreover, our analysis identifies niche space developing through the political ability of technology advocates recursively interpreting, representing, and negotiating between the content and contexts of innovation.
Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions, 2012
Energy Procedia, 2013
Whilst carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies are now in the demonstration phase, they are... more Whilst carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies are now in the demonstration phase, they are still characterised by a range of technical, economic, policy, social and legal uncertainties. This paper presents the results of an interdisciplinary research project funded by the UK Energy Research Centre (UKERC). The aim of the project was to analyse the main uncertainties facing potential investors in CCS and policy makers wishing to support these technologies through demonstration to commercial deployment. The paper presents a framework for the analysis of these uncertainties, and applies this framework to nine analogue case studies of CCS. These case studies have focused on historical developments in technologies and/or policy frameworks where one or more of these uncertainties has been prominent and have, in most cases, been partly resolved. The paper also shows applies the insights from these historical case studies to develop three potential pathways for CCS deployment in the UK over the period to 2030. Finally, the paper concludes with some implications for CCS policies and strategies.
Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 2014
This paper engages with recent research concerning the roles of niche spaces in the strategic man... more This paper engages with recent research concerning the roles of niche spaces in the strategic management of sustainable innovations. Whilst a growing body of empirical investigation looks to developments within these spaces, it is surprising how little pauses to consider how the spaces themselves develop over time, what constitutes these spaces, and how their characteristics influence sustainable innovation. We explore such questions through a case study into the history of solar photovoltaic electricity generation over the last 40 years in the UK. Whilst we see evidence consistent with recent ideas about niche spaces shielding, nurturing, and empowering sustainable innovation, the main thrust of our analysis concludes that this arises in contested and compromised ways. Moreover, our analysis identifies niche space developing through the political ability of technology advocates recursively interpreting, representing, and negotiating between the content and contexts of innovation.
regulation.upf.edu
The rise of a transitions discourse in Dutch environmental policy is analysed. This new approach ... more The rise of a transitions discourse in Dutch environmental policy is analysed. This new approach to environmental policy seeks radically more sustainable socio-technical systems. As such, its agenda constitutes the latest twist in attempts at ecological modernisation, aiming to decouple economic growth from harmful environmental degradation. The coalescence and influence of a transitions discourse coalition, which has helped shape national environmental policy planning in recent years, is contextualised ...
Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2013
This paper reviews the developments of solar photovoltaic (PV) technology in The Netherlands. Des... more This paper reviews the developments of solar photovoltaic (PV) technology in The Netherlands. Despite the recent boom in PV industries and its global deployment, The Netherlands has up to now not experienced major growth in the diffusion of PV electricity generation. But this is only part of the story. This paper focuses on the question why PV is still around in The Netherlands at all despiteits, at times, harsh policy and socio-economic contexts. It builds upon a recently developed framework from the field of transition studies that distinguishes between shielding, nurturing and empowerment of sustainable innovations. A descriptive historical review is combined with an analysis of niche space that shows how PV advocates have been able to strategically secure and shape protective measures over four decades in the context of harsh regime selection environments. The paper suggests how further analyses using this shielding-nurturing-empowerment framework can benefit from this exploratory study into PV innovation in The Netherlands.
Paper for the Earth Systems Governance conference in Amsterdam, May 1, 2007
The rise of a transitions discourse in Dutch environmental policy is analysed. This new approach ... more The rise of a transitions discourse in Dutch environmental policy is analysed. This new approach to environmental policy seeks radically more sustainable sociotechnical systems. As such, its agenda constitutes the latest twist in attempts at ecological modernisation, aiming to decouple economic growth from harmful environmental degradation. The coalescence and influence of a transitions discourse coalition, which has helped shape national environmental policy planning in recent years, is contextualised ...
The rise of a transitions discourse in Dutch environmental policy is analysed. This new approach ... more The rise of a transitions discourse in Dutch environmental policy is analysed. This new approach to environmental policy seeks radically more sustainable socio-technical systems. As such, its agenda constitutes the latest twist in attempts at ecological modernisation, aiming to decouple economic growth from harmful environmental degradation. The coalescence and influence of a transitions discourse coalition, which has helped shape national environmental policy planning in recent years, is contextualised and analysed. Its limited success in i nstitutionalising procedures for structural change in the energy domain suggests ecological modernisation remains elusive.
Energy Policy, 2008
Increasingly, researchers and policy-makers are confronting the challenge of restructuring energy... more Increasingly, researchers and policy-makers are confronting the challenge of restructuring energy systems into more sustainable forms. A 'transition management' model, and its adoption in the Netherlands, is attracting attention. Starting with the socio-technical multi-level theory that informs transition management, we analyse the 'energy transition' project carried out by the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs. Despite considerable achievements, their approach risks capture by the incumbent energy regime, thereby undermining original policy ambitions for structural innovation of the energy system. This experience presents generic dilemmas for transitions approaches.
Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions, 2015
ABSTRACT In the sustainability transitions literature the idea of ‘protective space’ shielding ni... more ABSTRACT In the sustainability transitions literature the idea of ‘protective space’ shielding niche innovations from unfriendly selection environments is a fundamental concept. Few studies pause to consider how and by whom such protective space is created, maintained or expanded. The paper develops three propositions to deepen our understanding of the ‘outward-oriented socio-political work’ performed by technology advocates. The paper conducts a meta-analysis of six low-carbon technology case studies in the UK and The Netherlands. In each case, analysis finds the cases relevant to the propositions, but requiring finer nuance and further development.
Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technology is considered key to mitigating climate change by int... more Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technology is considered key to mitigating climate change by international institutions and governments around the world. The technology is considered advantageous because it may enable the continued utilization of fossil fuels while curbing carbon emissions. However, development of the technology remains slow on the ground. It is generally argued that large-scale, integrated demonstration projects are needed as a next step toward commercialization. Despite government support in several countries, few projects exist so far worldwide. This paper asks why it is so difficult to get demonstration projects off the ground. The argument is that it is not only project-specific factors that determine the feasibility of demonstration, but given the need for government support, a variety of political economy factors influence decision-making processes by policy makers and companies. The paper introduces an analytical framework developed on the basis of the political economy literature that considers six sets of factors that influence outcomes. It discusses two specific projects, Longannet in the UK and Quest in Canada, and explains why one failed and the other one is under construction. The analysis shows that although climate change has been a more important policy concern in the UK compared to Canada, the specific political economy situation of fossil fuel rich provinces like Alberta has led to the Quest project going forward.
Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 2012
Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is seen as a key technology to tackle climate change. The princi... more Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is seen as a key technology to tackle climate change. The principal idea of CCS is to remove carbon from the flue gases arising from burning fuels for electricity generation or industrial applications and to store the carbon in geological formations to prevent it from entering the atmosphere. Policy makers in several countries are supportive of the technology, but a number of uncertainties hamper its further development and deployment. The paper makes three related contributions to the literatures on sociotechnical systems and technology assessment: 1) It systematically develops an interdisciplinary framework to assess the main uncertainties of CCS innovation. These include technical, economic, financial, political and societal issues. 2) It identifies important linkages between these uncertainties. 3) It develops qualitative and quantitative indicators for assessing these uncertainties. This framework aims to help decision making on CCS by private and public actors and is designed to be applicable to a wider range of low carbon technologies. The paper is based on a systematic review of the social science literature on CCS and on insights from innovation studies, as well as on interviews about assessment of new technologies with experts from a range of organisations and sectors.
Policy & Politics, 42:4, pp. 513-530, Oct 2014
This paper contributes to the literature on institutional change by creating a framework that bot... more This paper contributes to the literature on institutional change by creating a framework that both measures and explains policy change. The framework is then applied to UK energy policy from 2000 to 2012 and finds that a policy paradigm change has occurred. Contrary to expectations in the literature, however, the process of change has been informed by multiple narratives and the new governance system is complex and incoherent. The analysis also finds that there has been relatively little shift in how energy systems operate suggesting shortcomings in a conceptual focus on institutional change over outcomes.
This paper engages with recent research concerning the roles of niche spaces in the strategic man... more This paper engages with recent research concerning the roles of niche spaces in the strategic management of sustainable innovations. Whilst a growing body of empirical investigation looks to developments within these spaces, it is surprising how little pauses to consider how the spaces themselves develop over time, what constitutes these spaces, and how their characteristics influence sustainable innovation. We explore such questions through a case study into the history of solar photovoltaic electricity generation over the last 40 years in the UK. Whilst we see evidence consistent with recent ideas about niche spaces shielding, nurturing, and empowering sustainable innovation, the main thrust of our analysis concludes that this arises in contested and compromised ways. Moreover, our analysis identifies niche space developing through the political ability of technology advocates recursively interpreting, representing, and negotiating between the content and contexts of innovation.
Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions, 2012
Energy Procedia, 2013
Whilst carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies are now in the demonstration phase, they are... more Whilst carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies are now in the demonstration phase, they are still characterised by a range of technical, economic, policy, social and legal uncertainties. This paper presents the results of an interdisciplinary research project funded by the UK Energy Research Centre (UKERC). The aim of the project was to analyse the main uncertainties facing potential investors in CCS and policy makers wishing to support these technologies through demonstration to commercial deployment. The paper presents a framework for the analysis of these uncertainties, and applies this framework to nine analogue case studies of CCS. These case studies have focused on historical developments in technologies and/or policy frameworks where one or more of these uncertainties has been prominent and have, in most cases, been partly resolved. The paper also shows applies the insights from these historical case studies to develop three potential pathways for CCS deployment in the UK over the period to 2030. Finally, the paper concludes with some implications for CCS policies and strategies.
The contributors investigate policy paradigms and their ability to explain the policy process – a... more The contributors investigate policy paradigms and their ability to explain the policy process – actors, ideas, discourses and strategies employed – to provide readers with a better understanding of public policy and its dynamics. Drawing together leading researchers in the field, this edited collection offers a unique insight into a selection of policy paradigms, investigating their significance for public policy, policy making and policy change, in both theory and practice. The contributions open up new avenues of research on policy dynamics while re-evaluating the accuracy and effectiveness of existing policy orthodoxy.