Centre of Studies in Geography and Territorial Planning

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Winds of change: the potential path disturbing effect induced by the offshore wind energy technology

Publication . Fontes, Margarida; Santos, Hélder; Torres, Marcelo

ABSTRACT: Path development literature focus on path creation or on changes in mature paths but gives limited attention to early path evolution. The paper addresses this gap by investigating the disturbance, in the early trajectory of technology-driven regional industrial paths, that results from the emergence of new generations of technology. We propose that changes in actor composition and purposeful resource modification actions by path actors are important elements of disturbance and develop an approach to investigate their effects. The ongoing changes in the wind energy regional industrial path, associated with the development and diffusion of offshore wind energy technology, are empirically investigated. The research finds evidence of path disturbing effects at the level of actors and resources. As onshore wind actors start engaging in offshore activities and new actors enter the wind business, the composition and industrial structure of the wind energy regional path and its spatial distribution start to change. There are equally important effects upon the process of resource formation, at the level of knowledge, market, financial and legitimacy system resources and across the various phases of the industrial value chain. The paper contributes to a better understanding of path disturbance and offers an instrument to assess deviation in path trajectories and pinpoint its sources.

2025-08Journal article

Open access