The material dimensions of renewable energy deployment: understanding spatially uneven processes at the regional level in Italy and the UK Carla De Laurentis Student n. 006047575 This thesis is submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Welsh School of Architecture (WSA) at Cardiff University. March 2018 The material dimensions of renewable energy deployment: understanding spatially uneven processes at the regional level in Italy and the UK Carla De Laurentis Summary This thesis examines the processes of transformation underway within energy systems, specifically the move towards a higher share of renewable energy technologies. It aims to improve our understanding of the regional level and its role in shaping the pace and direction of renewable energy deployment. It proposes a novel way of researching renewable energy deployment - at the regional level - by investigating the evolving relationship between energy and materiality. It argues that the deployment of renewable energy, the process of turning renewable ‘natural resources’ into productive use as viable forms of energy through stages of energy conversion, storage, transmission and distribution has material aspects like those involved in the deployment of fossil fuels. This thesis considers the role of natural resources, investigating their implicit physical and partially socially produced nature and identifies several material dimensions of renewable energy discussing how they matter, why it is important to give them consideration and unpacking the different ways in which they matter. It develops an analytical and conceptual framework and its application and testing in the regions of Apulia, Tuscany and Sardinia, in Italy, and Wales and Scotland, in the UK. Drawing on the empirical material gathered this research shows how the various material dimensions of renewable energy have affected its spatial distribution and deployment. The thesis shows, by focusing on solar and wind energy, how the significant spatial variations in renewable energy deployment in the case study regions can be explained in terms of the influence of a number of material dimensions. iii This thesis aims to show how understanding these aspects of renewable energy offers an opportunity to unpack and explain how particular renewable energy paths come to be favoured or hampered, and yields useful insights into the spatial unevenness and variation of renewable energy deployment at the regional level. iv DECLARATION This work has not been submitted in substance for any other degree or award at this or any other university or place of learning, nor is being submitted concurrently in candidature for any degree or other award. Signed ……………………………………………………… (candidate) Date …………26/11/2019….……… STATEMENT 1 This thesis is being submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Welsh School of Architecture (WSA) at Cardiff University. Signed ………………………………………….…………… (candidate) Date …………26/11/2019….…………… STATEMENT 2 This thesis is the result of my own independent work/investigation, except where otherwise stated, and the thesis has not been edited by a third party beyond what is permitted by Cardiff University’s Policy on the Use of Third Party Editors by Research Degree Students. Other sources are acknowledged by explicit references. The views expressed are my own. Signed ……………………………………….……….…… (candidate) Date ……………26/11/2019…………… STATEMENT 3 I hereby give consent for my thesis, if accepted, to be available online in the University’s Open Access repository and for inter-library loan, and for the title and summary to be made available to outside organisations. Signed ……………………………………………..…..….. (candidate) Date ………………26/11/2019……… STATEMENT 4: PREVIOUSLY APPROVED BAR ON ACCESS I hereby give consent for my thesis, if accepted, to be available online in the University’s Open Access repository and for inter-library loans after expiry of a bar on access previously approved by the Academic Standards & Quality Committee. Signed ……………………………………………..……… (candidate) Date ………………………………….……… v Dedication This research is dedicated to my husband, Sean, and to our children, Luca and Sofia. They have supported me all along on this project with their encouragement, patience and willingness to listen. With gratitude and affection to all my family, friends and colleagues, who have been with me during this journey. Acknowledgements I am very grateful to all the support provided to this project by my supervisors Prof. Peter Pearson and Prof. Chris Tweed. A particular thank goes to Prof. Malcolm Eames who unfortunately had to step down as my supervisor due to ill health, but still assisted me, informally, on many occasions. My thanks go to Prof. Richard Cowell for the helpful discussion during the early phases of developing the framework analysis. I wish to thank all the people who gave up their time to share their knowledge in interviews in the UK and Italy. The financial support provided to this Doctoral Study by the EPSRC and the Welsh School of Architecture is greatly appreciated. I am also grateful for the opportunity to obtain a Short Term Scientific Mission grant (Cost Action TU1104 – Smart Energy Regions) that supported the fieldwork in Italy. vi The material dimensions of renewable energy deployment: understanding spatially uneven processes at the regional level in Italy and the UK Table of Contents List of Illustrations and Abbreviations List of Figures xi List of Tables xii List of Boxes xiv List of Abbreviations xv Chapter 1 Context and rationale for the research Summary 1 1.1 Introduction 1 1.2 Theoretical context and gaps in knowledge 3 1.3 Exploring the material dimensions of renewable energy 7 1.4 Objectives and methodological approach 9 1.4.1 Research questions and research objectives 9 1.4.2 Brief description of the research strategy, methods and data 10 collection 1.5 Outline of the thesis 13 Chapter 2 Setting the boundaries of the research: a critical literature review Summary 16 2.1 Introduction 16 2.2 Sustainability transitions 18 vii 2.2.1 The ‘geographical turn’ in sustainability transitions 22 2.2.3 Sustainability transitions and the geography of sustainability 26 transitions: their relevance to this work 2.3 The Regional Innovation Systems approach: unpacking regional and local 28 institutional dynamics 2.3.1 The regional innovation system approach: its relevance to this 33 work 2.3.1.1 Regional policy relevance 33 2.3.1.2 The importance of informal institutions: culture of 36 cooperation 2.4 The missing element: understanding the role of natural resource 37 endowments 2.4.1 Natural resource endowment in innovation systems and 37 transitions literatures 2.4.2 The material dimensions of renewable energy: introducing the 38 concept 2.5 Concluding remarks 41 Chapter 3 Research design and methods Summary 43 3.1 Introduction 43 3.2 Research Questions, objectives and methodological implications 45 3.2.1 The methodological stance of the research 47 3.3 Research strategy, methods and data collection 50 3.3.1 Multiple case study selection and design 51 3.3.2 Data collection 61 3.3.3 Study visits 66 viii 3.3.4 Ethical Issues 67 3.4 Data analysis 67 3.5 Limitations of the research 69 3.6 Concluding remarks 70 Chapter 4 Renewable energy institutions at international and national levels: Italy and the UK, differences and similarities Summary 71 4. 1 Introduction 71 4.2 Unfolding the landscape of renewable energy systems: European and 73 International policy and governance frameworks 4.2. 1 International policy and governance frameworks 73 4.2. 2 European policy and governance frameworks 75 4.3 The Renewable Energy System in Italy 80 4.3.1 Main characteristics of the Italian energy system and the path to 80 renewable energy 4.3.2 Financial and legislative incentives for Renewable Energy 84 4.4 The Renewable Energy System in the UK 93 4.4.1 Main characteristics of the UK energy system and the path to 93 renewable energy 4.4.2 Financial and legislative incentives for Renewable Energy in the 96 UK 4.5 The role of regions in renewable energy governance in Italy and the UK 103 4.6 Concluding Remarks 109 Chapter 5 Developing an analytical and conceptual framework to study renewable energy deployment at regional level ix Summary 111 5.1 Introduction 111 5.2 Material dimensions of non-renewable energy resource deployment 114 5.3 Exploring the material dimensions of RE deployment 119 5.3.1 RE sources as potentially deployable sources of energy, their 120 appraisal and their interactions with current land-based resource use 5.3.2 Discourses, narratives and visions for renewable energy 122 deployment 5.3.3 Physical characteristics and built infrastructure requirements for 124 renewable energy deployment 5.4 The material dimensions of renewable energy and their influence on 126 regional institutions, governance and decision making 5.5 The material dimensions of renewable energy and institutions 131 5.6 An analytical frame to study renewable energy deployment at regional level 132 5.7 Concluding remarks 135 Chapter 6 Renewable energy sources as potentially deployable sources of energy, their appraisal and their interactions with current land-based resource use Summary 137 6. 1 Introduction 137 6.2 Targets and resource assessments: their constructions and calculations 141 6.2.1 Targets and resource assessments in Italian regions 142 6.2.1.1 The burden sharing principle 142 6.2.1.2 How differences at regional level have emerged 145 6.2.2