Chasing after the wind? Green economy strategies, path creation and transitions in the offshore wind industry

ABSTRACT

There has been a growing interest by both academics and policymakers at the local and regional scales in the development of a green economy both to promote economic development and to achieve environmental policy aims. Despite this, there is little evidence about whether either the economic or the environmental aims are being met, nor how local and regional authorities are promoting and developing green economies in their localities. In order to address these issues, this paper explores the development of the offshore wind industry in North West Germany, drawing upon sustainability transitions research and the path creation literature.

KEYWORDS:

• green economy
• offshore wind industry
• sustainability transitions
• multilevel perspective
• path creation
• renewable energy

JEL:

• R11
• R58

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Thanks to the three anonymous reviewers and the editor for their helpful and constructive comments and suggestions on an earlier draft of this paper. The usual disclaimers apply.

DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1. See de.statista.com/statistik/daten/studie/36651/umfrage/arbeitslosenquote-in-deutschland-nach-bundeslaendern/.

2. Siemens merged with the Spanish company Gamesa to form Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy in 2017.

3. Acquired by the Chinese company Titan Wind Energy in 2019.

4. The nacelle part of a wind turbine is on top of the tower. It contains the gear box, low- and high-speed shafts, generator, controller and brake. See www.energy.gov/eere/wind/inside-wind-turbine/.

5. The OTB development was put on hold by the state government in mid-2019. See https://www.butenunbinnen.de/nachrichten/politik/otb-bremerhaven-sondierungen-100.html/.

6. See www.iea.org/reports/germany-2020/.

7. offshoreWIND (2018). See www.offshorewind.biz/2018/04/23/globaldata-siemens-gamesa-outstrips-vestas/.

8. Despite initial concerns over the future of the Siemens plant in Hull following Brexit, in 2021 the company announced that it would double its plant size reflecting demand in the OSW market. See www.hullccnews.co.uk/09/08/2021/siemens-gamesa-confirms-expansion-bringing-more-jobs-to-hull/.

9. See www.afw-cuxhaven.de/en/sectors/renewable-energy/.

Additional information

Funding

David Gibbs acknowledges the support of a Regional Studies Association Fellowship Research Grant [grant number FeRSA May 2016]. Paul Jensen acknowledges the support of the Green Port Hull/Regional Growth Fund.