Technological shape and size: A disaggregated perspective on sectoral innovation systems in renewable electrification pathways

Hansen, Ulrich Elmer; Gregersen, Cecilia; Lema, Rasmus; Samoita, Dominic; Wandera, Faith H.

doi:10.1016/j.erss.2018.02.012

Cited by 30 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…An additional reason for studying renewable energy technologies and their dissemination in low and middle-income countries relates to their potential to support sustainable industrialisation. Capabilities developed in connection with renewable energy projects may also be useful in other sectors and contexts (Hansen et al, 2018;Lema et al, 2018) -or may help a country move from the position of a being a user of technologies developed elsewhere to actually developing new technologies. Ockwell and Mallett (2013) find that improving the local capabilities to understand and maintain technology through the transfer of technological innovations is useful for economic growth in low and middle-income countries.…”

Section: Why Study Diffusion Of Renewable Energy In Low and Middle-income Countries?mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…There are indications, however, that low and middle-income countries could take advantage of commercial opportunities for renewable energy technologies such as small wind, which has become a conventional or mainstream technology in many high-income countries (Lewis, 2007). Recent literature on small wind in low and middle-income countries has also pointed to the potential for small wind to complement other forms of renewable energy (Hansen et al, 2018;Johannsen et al, 2020).…”

Section: Why Focus On Small Wind?mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The paper focuses on the small wind energy sector and specifically, systems smaller than 100 kW. Small wind is a particularly interesting sector for exploring issues related to learning from importing because this technology exhibits features of 'appropriate technology' and because entry barriers are relatively small compared to, e.g., large wind and solar photovoltaic (PV), and hence there may be greater opportunities for localisation and eventual value chain organisation by domestic firms (Hansen et al, 2018).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Learning from global suppliers: the diffusion of small wind in low- and middle-income countries

Wandera

Andersen²,

Lema

2021

IJTLID

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An increasing number of low and middle-income countries seek to boost electrification with renewable energy. Yet, most renewable energy equipment and services are imported from global technologies suppliers located in high-income countries. This article aims to learn from global suppliers of small wind turbines: what can we learn about capabilities, opportunities and barriers for diffusion of small wind? What insights can we derive about organisational learning and policy learning to enhance diffusion? Our survey of global producers shows that at firm-level capabilities such as preparation of feasibility reports and selection of project sites are major weakness in developing countries. Limited knowledge of technologies and skilled manpower are also key constraints. While there are opportunities for learning from global suppliers during project planning and installation, low absorptive capacity constrains the further diffusion of knowledge locally.

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Section: Why Study Diffusion Of Renewable Energy In Low and Middle-income Countries?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Why Focus On Small Wind?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Learning from global suppliers: the diffusion of small wind in low- and middle-income countries

Wandera

Andersen²,

Lema

2021

IJTLID

Self Cite

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“…Secondly, with the appropriate policy framework, many PV projects in developing countries attract international investors [22,32]. These international players not only have access to cheaper finance, but also often have established relationships that give them access to well-priced quality modules and inverters.…”

Section: Applications Spillovers and Cost-efficient Policy Sequencing To Support Distributed Pv Adoptionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…While previous studies have investigated the impact of application spillovers on the cost of deployment policies [30] or technology selection [18], these studies simply assumed perfect spillovers across applications. Instead, this study seeks to determine the extent and mechanisms by which spillovers from utility-scale to distributed PV occur in practice, as large-versus small-scale applications can potentially exhibit different learning dynamics [32]. Specifically, through qualitative interviews, it analyzes how strong utility-scale deployment helps build local PV competencies and ecosystems, thereby facilitating the networks, scale, and value chains needed for distributed PV markets to develop.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fostering grid-connected solar energy in emerging markets: The role of learning spillovers

Matsuo

2019

Energy Research & Social Science

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Growing energy demands and rapid urbanization alongside an increasing urgency for climate change mitigation and resiliency make grid-connected distributed photovoltaics (PV) a critical solution in many emerging economies. However, adoption of distributed PV in these contexts has been slow due to its high upfront cost. As policies to kick-start the distributed PV market directly are often costly, this paper shows how a policy that first supports cheaper utility-scale PV deployment can create spillovers that lead to complementary cost reductions in distributed PV. Specifically, through interviews with experts in the PV industry, this paper finds that strong utility-scale deployment helps build local PV competencies and ecosystems, thereby facilitating the networks, scale, and value chains needed for distributed PV markets to develop. Harnessing these spillover effects can also reduce the upfront cost of distributed PV significantly and cost-effectively. Results of a dynamic bottom-up techno-economic model based on spillovers across PV components indicate that, in the presence of application spillovers, public financing used to initially support utility-scale PV deployment can leverage significant distributed PV cost reductions. By accelerating the profitability of distributed PV, application spillovers also enable more widespread and equitable distributed PV adoption. The paper concludes with recommendations to policymakers wishing to support more widespread distributed PV adoption in emerging and developing country contexts, with a particular focus on strategies for fostering application spillovers.

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Assessing learning in low carbon technologies: Toward a more comprehensive approach

Lewis

Nemet

2021

WIREs Climate Change

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With decades of experience developing and deploying low carbon technologies around the world, much has been learned. We assess six categories that represent the diversity of methodological approaches that have been used to study low carbon learning: (1) learning curves; (2) expert elicitations; (3) patent analysis; (4) engineering-based decomposition; (5) policy intervention studies; and (6) case studies. Based on a review of low carbon learning studies in these six areas, we summarize what we know about low carbon learning, and what we have yet to fully understand, including the methodological strengths and limitations of key studies conducted to date. We find that a more comprehensive understanding of low carbon learning is necessary and timely given the massive scale and short time horizon of the low carbon transition, and that there are real benefits to employing a comprehensive approach using multiple methods. We find a need for better data sets, and for studies of a more diverse set of technologies, as well as of interactions among technologies. In addition, studies should be more explicit about local context, with a particular need for additional focus on emerging and developing countries. We identify key topics that warrant further research, including technology specific learning methods; spatial distinctions and the local and global linkages that influence learning; and an expanded study of the cultural, social, environmental, and political factors that influence learning. Finally, we recommend more nuance in the design of policies directed at accelerating low carbon learning. This article is categorized under:The Carbon Economy and Climate Mitigation > Future of Global Energy K E Y W O R D S climate change, innovation, learning, low carbon technologies, methods 1 | INTRODUCTION Climate change necessitates the transition to a low carbon economy, presenting both challenges and opportunities. One main challenge is the scale of energy investment needed (estimated at between 1.6 and 3.8 trillion USD annually between 2016 and 2050) (Climate Policy Initiative, 2019; Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [IPCC], 2018), along with the need to overcome technological lock in and path dependency, all in a relatively short time horizon given looming climate disasters. However, many opportunities lie in the commercialization of low carbon energy

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Technological shape and size: A disaggregated perspective on sectoral innovation systems in renewable electrification pathways

Cited by 30 publications

References 23 publications

Learning from global suppliers: the diffusion of small wind in low- and middle-income countries

Learning from global suppliers: the diffusion of small wind in low- and middle-income countries

Fostering grid-connected solar energy in emerging markets: The role of learning spillovers

Assessing learning in low carbon technologies: Toward a more comprehensive approach

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