The Institutional Analysis of the UK Low-carbon Energy Transition

Abstract

The UK energy transition has been enabled by continuous institutional evolution. The institution has experienced sustained progress even though its governing parties have changed. The institutional path of the UK energy transition was generated by the privatization of the energy industry, the stable energy supply from the North Sea, climate change response, and pit closures in the Conservative government. Then, the acceleration of oil and gas depletion in the North Sea and the strengthening of climate change response in the global society were significant driving forces to reinforce the institutional path of the low-carbon energy transition. The liberalization of the energy and power market reflected the continuity of energy policy direction between the Conservative and Labour government. A constant increase in energy imports and strengthened climate change regulations of the EU pressed the UK to maintain the institutional path of the low-carbon energy transition. In spite of the controversies after the Chernobyl and Fukushima accidents, the expansion of nuclear power has been maintained through public consultations. A consistent energy policy responding to the internal and external changes has provided an institutional durability and flexibility while public opinion has provided an institutional legitimacy.