| ID | 127883 |
| Title Proper | Fuelling expectations |
| Other Title Information | a policy-promise lock-in of UK biofuel policy |
| Language | ENG |
| Author | Berti, Pietro ; Levido, Les |
| Publication | 2014. |
| Summary / Abstract (Note) | Controversy over EU-wide biofuel policy resonated within the UK, fuelling policy disagreements among UK public authorities. They disagreed over how to protect a space for future second-generation biofuels, which were expected to overcome harm from first-generation biofuels. The UK government defended rising targets for available biofuels as a necessary stimulus for industry to help fulfil the UK's EU obligations and eventually develop second-generation biofuels. By contrast, Parliamentary Select Committees opposed biofuel targets on grounds that these would instead lock-in first-generation biofuels, thus delaying or pre-empting second-generation biofuels. Those disagreements can be explained by different institutional responsibilities and reputational stakes towards 'promise-requirement cycles', whereby techno-optimistic promises generate future requirements for the actors involved. The UK government's stance illustrates a 'policy-promise lock-in', a dilemma whereby promised support is a requirement for credibility towards technology innovators and thus technoscientific development - but may delay the redirection of support from incumbent to preferable emerging technologies. Thus the sociology of expectations - previously applied to technological expectations from technology innovators - can be extended to analyse public authorities. |
| `In' analytical Note | Energy Policy Vol. 66, No. ; March 2014: p.135.143 |
| Journal Source | Energy Policy Vol. 66, No. ; March 2014: p.135.143 |
| Key Words | United Kingdom - UK ; Energy Policy ; Conventional Energy ; Non Conventional Energy ; Technological Expectations ; Preferable Emerging Technologies ; Energy Technovation ; Energy Stimulation ; Biofuels ; Energy Power ; Biofuel Policy - United Kingdom ; Energy Strategy ; Energy Crisis ; Energy Resources |