Changing Institutional Landscapes for Implementing Wind Power: A Geographical Comparison of Institutional Capacity Building: The Netherlands, England and North Rhine-Westphalia(UvA Proefschriften)

This international comparative study provides insight in the political-institutional conditions that have impeded and encouraged onshore wind power implementation in the Netherlands, England and the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia. The extent to which wind power, as a new energy technology, has become embedded in existing routines and practices (institutions) of society, differs between the cases. North Rhine-Westphalia, which is most successful in terms of installed capacity, is also most successful in terms of social acceptance of wind power. Wind power developments started in the form of grass-roots initiatives in which many citizens participated. Over time, in North Rhine-Westphalia, wind power became embedded as an environmentally preferable energy source, as a new economic sector, and as a socially acceptable alternative to conventional energy generation. In the other cases, the historical trajectories have been different and less successful.

Table of Contents:
Table of Contents Tables, figures, maps and annexes Acknowledgements 1. Wind power in perspective: background and literature review 1.1 Introduction and background on renewables 1.1.1 Renewable energy sources 1.1.2 Rise of environmental concern 1.2 Diffusion of renewables: studies and approaches 1.2.1 Policy support for renewables: studies and discussions 1.2.2 Innovation systems approaches: diffusion of wind power technology 1.2.3 Ecological modernisation: theory, discourse, and policy 1.3 Planning for wind power: the local context 1.3.1 Spatial planning domain 1.3.2 Perceptions, attitudes and behaviour 1.3.3 Local planning and project development approach 1.4 Institutional capacity for wind power implementation 2. Theoretical considerations and conceptual framework 2.1 Introduction 2.2 New institutionalisms 2.2.1 Three strands of new institutionalism 2.2.2 Institutionalist approach in our research 2.3 Theoretical frameworks on policy and planning 2.4 Conceptual framework 3. Research method and design 3.1 Introduction 3.2 Multiple case study research 3.3 Single cases and cross-comparison 3.3.1 Single case studies 3.3.2 Cross-comparison and conclusions 3.4 Data and analysis 3.5 Reliability and validity 4. Wind energy in the Netherlands 4.1 Introduction 4.2 Stories on wind power 4.3 Domains: energy, planning and environment 4.3.1 Energy domain 4.3.2 Spatial planning domain 4.3.3 Environmental policy domain 4.3.4 Discussion: policy domains and policy framing 4.4 Policy communities 4.5 Changes in capacity building for wind energy 5. Wind energy in England 5.1 Introduction 5.2 Stories on wind 5.3 Policy domains: energy, planning and environment 5.3.1 Energy domain 5.3.2 Spatial planning domain 5.3.3 Environmental policy domain 5.3.4 Discussion: three domains converging? 5.4 Policy communities 5.5 Institutional capacity building 6. Wind energy in North Rhine-Westphalia 6.1 Introduction 6.2 Stories on wind 6.3 Policy domains: energy, planning and environment 6.3.1 Energy domain 6.3.2 Spatial planning domain 6.3.3 Environmental policy domain 6.3.4. Discussion: policy domains and policy framing 6.4 Policy communities 6.5 Institutional capacity building: losing touch 7. Identifying perspectives across cases 7.1 Steps involved in Q sort analysis 7.2 Four distinct views on wind power implementation 7.3 Concluding remarks 8. Comparison on institutional capacity building 8.1 Introduction 8.2 Comparison of stories and relation to Q sort analysis 8.2.1 Differences in stories among the cases 8.3 Comparing arrangements in the policy domains 8.3.1 Energy domain 8.3.2 Planning domain 8.3.3 Environmental policy domain 8.3.4 Policy communities and mobilisation of support 8.4 Conceptual framework and empirical inquiry 9. Institutionalising capacities for wind power implementation in changing contexts 9.1 Introduction 9.2 Conclusions on institutional capacity building 9.3 Wider relevance of the conclusions 9.4 Adopting a strategy of institutional capacity building References List of Abbreviations Annex A Coded Arguments Annex B Respondents Annex C Q sort statements (randomly numbered) Nederlandse samenvatting Summary

About the Author :
Sylvia Breukers conducted her PhD research at the Amsterdam Institute for Metropolitan and International Development Studies, University of Amsterdam, under supervision of Maarten Wolsink and Ton Dietz. At present she works as a post-doc at the department of Innovation and Environmental Sciences, Utrecht University.