From laggard to leader: Explaining offshore wind developments in the UK

• UK is world leader in offshore wind deployment.
• Article explains boom in deployment by looking at the politics of renewable energy policy.
• Offshore wind is supported by a variety of actors with aligned political and economic interests.
• Analysis highlights the importance of a system builder.

Offshore wind technology has recently undergone rapid deployment in the UK. And yet, up until recently, the UK was considered a laggard in terms of deploying renewable energy. How can this burst of offshore wind activity be explained? An economic analysis would seek signs for newfound competitiveness for offshore wind in energy markets. A policy analysis would highlight renewable energy policy developments and assess their contribution to economic prospects of offshore wind. However, neither perspective sheds sufficient light on the advocacy of the actors involved in the development and deployment of the technology. Without an account of technology politics it is hard to explain continuing policy support despite rising costs. By analysing the actor networks and narratives underpinning policy support for offshore wind, we explain how a fairly effective protective space was constructed through the enroling of key political and economic interests.