Reframing decommissioning as energy infrastructural investment : a comparative analysis of motivational frames in Scotland and Germany
Abstract
Decommissioning is often understood to mark the end of an energy infrastructure, associated supply network or even an entire industry. The long-term nature of this process for large scale infrastructure offers, however, a strategic opportunity for businesses. The paper argues that pro-industry Scottish business interests have proactively reframed decommissioning oil and gas infrastructure as an investment opportunity, whereas their German counterparts in the nuclear industry have struggled to mobilize a positive reframing of the phase-out. A detailed analysis of eighteen interviews reveals critical insight into how each industry approaches mobilizing support for their interests through motivational framing in the decommissioning context. Four key differences between the case studies (materiality, industry trajectories, rise of small business and national political identity) are then identified and reflected upon.
Citation
McCauley , D 2018 , ' Reframing decommissioning as energy infrastructural investment : a comparative analysis of motivational frames in Scotland and Germany ' , Energy Research and Social Science , vol. 41 , pp. 31-38 . https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2018.04.018
Publication
Energy Research and Social Science
Status
Peer reviewed
ISSN
2214-6296Type
Journal article
Rights
Crown Copyright © 2018 Published by Elsevier Ltd. This work is made available online in accordance with the publisher’s policies. This is the author created, accepted version manuscript following peer review and may differ slightly from the final published version. The final published version of this work is available at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2018.04.018
Description
The author thanks the British Academy and Carnegie for their support.Collections
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