Constructing a macro-actor in practice: the case of Wave Hub

347 Pages·2014·3.13 MB·English

by  Iskandarova, Marfuga

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Constructing a macro-actor in practice:
the case of Wave Hub

Submitted by Marfuga Iskandarova to the University of Exeter
as a thesis for the degree of
Doctor of Philosophy in Management Studies
In July 2013

This thesis is available for Library use on the understanding that it is copyright
material and that no quotation from the thesis may be published without proper
acknowledgement.

I certify that all material in this thesis which is not my own work has been identified
and that no material has previously been submitted and approved for the award of a
degree by this or any other University.

Signature: ……Marfuga Iskandarova..…..
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Abstract
This research examines whether study of the controversial evolution of energy
systems and emerging energy technologies can contribute to the debates in energy
policy and STS, especially those concerning the ongoing search for solutions to
energy and environmental problems through the promotion of low-carbon
technologies. The focus of this study is on the emergence and growth of a
technological project in the renewable energy sector, Wave Hub in Cornwall, UK.
The analysis, informed by actor-network theory, helps to explore the emergence of
Wave Hub as a complex socio-technical system and a macro-actor. The case study
reveals that the project is associated with various controversies and problematic
temporalities. The construction of credibility and viability of the technological project
is explored, including the 'public face’ of the project, various meanings attributed to
Wave Hub and its symbolic capital. The discourse around Wave Hub is critically
reviewed, as regards stakeholder assumptions about the technological feasibility of
the project. Consideration is also given to the political dimensions of credibility,
including the promissory role of policy discourse. An actor-network theory approach
helps questioning the idea of policy as ‘macro context’; the utility of an analytical
approach to policy as an actant is thus investigated. I ask to what extent, and in what
sense, policy can be understood as an element of an actor-network, not merely a
context. Furthermore, this helps to build a critical discussion around the evolution of
the actor-network with policy as its active element and critically assess to what
extent this approach might help to understand the destiny of a technological project.
The politics of expertise in the case of Wave Hub is shown to play a critical role for
the ‘credibility-economy’ of the project. Exploring how the expertise is understood
and performed in the case of Wave Hub, I consider the question of the self-
representation of experts and how the expert knowledge and the expert status are
constituted. Studying the contestation of expertise and its categorisation helps to
analyse various forms of collaboration formed around Wave Hub, but also
antagonism which was revealed between different groups of experts.
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Acknowledgement

This PhD thesis would not have been accomplished without the continuous support
and guidance of my academic supervisors Dr. Elena Simakova, Dr. Peter Connor
and Ms Julie Whittaker. Their incredible insight into their respective disciplines has
enabled me to undertake this interdisciplinary research project. I am also thankful to
Prof. Tim Newton, who guided me at the early stage of my doctorate programme.
I am grateful to all the participants of the study for their time and efforts to support
my data collection.
I would like to thank my examiners, Dr. Shane Fudge and Prof. Peter Karnoøe, as
well as the Chair of the examination board Prof. Richard Owen, for their constructive
comments. Their feedback has enhanced my thesis and enabled me to develop it
further.
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Contents

Chapter 1. Introduction 13

Chapter 2. Literature Review 22
2.1. Introduction 22
2.2. Key directions in renewable energy research 24
2.2.1. Renewable energy policy and energy transitions 25
2.2.2. Innovation and technological development studies 29
2.2.3. Public perception and resource assessment: case study approach 32
2.3. Science and Technology Studies: relevant concepts and approaches 34
2.3.1. Sociology of technology 36
2.3.2. From credibility of scientific facts to credibility of technology 51
2.3.3. Understanding design practices 60
2.3.4. Experts and expert knowledge 64
2.4. Actor-network theory as a theoretical resource 69
2.4.1. Actors, networks and process of translation 70
2.4.2. The concept of macro-actor 76
2.4.3. Heterogeneous engineering 83
2.4.4. Power, irreversibility and stabilisation of networks 86
2.4.5. ANT and renewable energy 89
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2.5. Content/context dichotomy in STS 92
2.6. Research questions 96

Chapter 3. Methodology 99
3.1. Introduction 99
3.2. Research strategy and objectives 99
3.2.1. Methodological positioning of the study 99
3.2.2. Multiperspectival analytical framework 101
3.2.2.1. ANT as a methodological strategy 101
3.2.2.2. Developing a composite framework 106
3.3. The politics of research 110
3.3.1. Political character of research 110
3.3.2. Ethical considerations 112
3.4. Case study 114
3.5. Data collection 120
3.5.1. Semi-structured interviews 120
3.5.2. Documentary data 127
3.5.3. Observations 131
3.6. Conclusion 133
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Chapter 4. Emergence of a macro-actor: a possible history of
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Wave Hub
4.1. Introduction 135
4.2. Wave Hub: the birth of the idea 138
4.3. Feasibility stage and consenting process 141
4.4. Analysing controversies 146
4.5. Executing the project: construction of the facility 153
4.6. Uncertain future of Wave Hub 159
4.7. Conclusion 164

Chapter 5. Policy as an actant: from scale to agency 167
5.1. Introduction 167
5.2. Expectations and renewable energy policy: the promissory discourse 169
5.2.1. Policy discourse and stabilisation of renewable energy as a policy
172
category
5.2.1.1. Wave energy: promises, uncertainty and expectations 172
5.2.1.2. Constitution of renewable energy as a policy category 176
5.2.2. Policy mechanisms and instruments to support renewable energy in
182
the UK
5.2.2.1. Financial mechanisms for renewable energy 182
5.2.2.2. Additional financial support schemes for the UK wave energy
187
sector
5.2.2.3. Boundary support initiatives 191
5.3. Policy in participants’ discourse: revealing critique and antagonism 193
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5.4. Policy as an actant – implications for critical policy analysis? 202
5.4.1. Reconsidering the notion of policy 202
5.4.2. Policy and Wave Hub – mutually constitutive networks? 206
5.5. Conclusion 211

Chapter 6. Constructing credibility: do expectations matter? 214
6.1. Introduction 214
6.2. Constructing credibility of a macro-actor 217
6.2.1. Justification, argumentation and ambitions 217
6.2.2. Representation, meanings and symbolic capital of Wave Hub 229
6.2.3. Visualisation and representation of the Wave Hub project 237
6.3. Legitimate decision-making and problems of design 242
6.3.1. Developing a ‘credible’ design solution 242
6.3.2. From ‘failures’ to ‘lessons learned’ 259
6.3.2.1. Accounting for ‘failures’ 259
6.3.2.2. Serendipitous nature of delays 263
6.3.2.3. Lessons learned 265
6.4. Conclusion 267

Chapter 7. The politics of expertise: Wave Hub as a focus and
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source of expert knowledge
7.1. Introduction 270
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7.2. Wave energy in scientific discourse 274
7.3. Categorisation of expertise as a membership device 284
7.3.1. Different types of expertise: academic, commercial and managerial 284
7.3.2. The politics of commercial expertise 287
7.4. The production of academic expertise around Wave Hub 289
7.4.1. PRIMaRE as a ‘boundary organisation’ 290 289
7.4.2. Collaboration and commercialisation of scientific knowledge 296
7.4.3. Data sharing at the boundary between academic and commercial
301
worlds
7.5. The main antagonism? Academic versus commercial expertise 304
7.6. Conclusion 308

Chapter 8. Conclusion 310

References 322
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List of figures
Fig. 1. Wave Hub (official website) 117
Fig. 2. Distribution of wave, tidal stream and tidal range energy resources 174
Fig. 3. Potential Deployment plan for wave and tidal stream technologies out 180
to 2030
Fig. 4. The official representation of Wave Hub (present version) 240
Fig. 5. Artist’s impression for AB Design Group showing the Regional 241
Development Agency’s (RDA) major scheme for a Wave Hub in St
Ives Bay, Cornwall
Fig. 6. Design options 245-246
Fig. 7. Conceptual illustration of Wave Hub (final outline design) 247
Fig. 8. Transformer / Power Connection Unit (PCU) 249
Fig. 9. Schematic layout for Wave Hub (current official representation) 251
Fig. 10. Primary and reserve hub sites with cable routs 257
Fig. 11. Chart Overview of the Revised Wave Hub Location 258
Fig. 12. Variation of directional distribution of incident wave energy with m 281
and DSPR
Fig. 13. Comparison of wave energy density spectrum before and after 281
passing through partially transmitting obstacle with a transmission
coefficient of 0.5
Fig. 14. Wave buoy array data 282
Fig. 15. Monthly and yearly power variation at location 1, Wave Hub 282
Fig. 16. Overview mean wave power on the Cornish coast with bathymetry 283
contours
Fig. 17. South West Wave Energy Resources 283
Fig. 18. Offshore Energy Resources in the South West 284