Understanding the intensity of UK policy commitments to nuclear power

Cox, Emily, Johnstone, P and Stirling, A 2016. Understanding the intensity of UK policy commitments to nuclear power. [Working Paper]. SPRU Working Paper Series, Sussex: University of Sussex. Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2837691

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Abstract

The UK Government has long been planning to build up to 16 GWe of new nuclear power – aproportional level of support unparalleled in other liberalised energy markets. Despite many challenging developments, these general nuclear attachments show no sign of easing. With many viable alternative strategies for efficient, secure, low-carbon energy services, it is difficult to explain these commitments solely in terms of officially-declared policy rationales.A variety of possible reasons are suggested for the persistent intensity of UK attachments to civil nuclear power. Each is taken here as a basis for systematic hypothesis testing. And one additional hypothesis is also interrogated that has hitherto been virtually entirely neglected–about maintainingnational capabilities to build and operate nuclear-propelled submarines. To explore and test this idea, this paper analyses linkages between UK military and civilian nuclear sectorsin terms of high-level policy processes around supply chains, skills and expertise. Especially interesting is the critical juncture between 2003 -2006, whenstated policy moved radically from nuclear power as ‘unattractive’to calls for a ‘nuclear renaissance’. In this period,especially intense activity can be observed around UK nuclear submarine capabilities. Among manyfactors, we conclude it is difficult fully to comprehend the persistent intensity of official UK attachments to nuclear power, without also considering aims to maintain nuclear submarine capabilities. Yet thisaspect is entirely undocumented anywhere in UK energy policy literatures. To acknowledge this,is not to entertain a conspiracy theory. It can be understood instead, in terms of more distributed and relational dynamics of power. Building on literatures in political science, we refer to this as a‘deep incumbency complex’. Such an evidently under-visible phenomenon would hold important implications not only for UK nuclear strategies, but also the wider state of British democracy.

Item Type:	Monograph (Working Paper)
Date Type:	Published Online
Status:	Published
Schools:	Psychology
Uncontrolled Keywords:	civil nuclear power; nuclear energy strategies; UK energy policy; nuclear weapons; nuclear-propelled submarines; incumbency; lock-in; renewable energy; technological discontinuation; sociotechnical transformation; theories of power; institutional theory; political science; science and technology
Publisher:	University of Sussex
Last Modified:	17 Mar 2021 02:24
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/107025

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