Transforming the energy sector: the evolution of technological systems in renewable energy technology

Abstract

This paper analyses the development and diffusion of technologies that utilise renewable energy sources in Germany, Sweden and the Netherlands. The analysis enlarges the life cycle model of industry evolution to one where the focus is on the formation and evolution of new technological systems. Particular focus is on explaining success and failures in shifting from a formative phase into one characterised by positive feedbacks. A set of challenges is identified for policy makers attempting to influence the process of transforming the energy sector.* This paper provides a synthesis of work undertaken within the framework of the project "Shaping and exploiting technological opportunities -the case of the Swedish capital goods industry"s venture into renewable energy technology". The Swedish Energy Agency kindly financed our work, which was undertaken under the auspices of IMIT. Funding was also received from Gothenburg Energy Ltd. Research Foundation for one of our case studies. The study would have been impossible to undertake without this support and without the time generously given to us by a large number of people in Swedish, German and Dutch firms, research institutes and other organisations. We are also grateful to Jan Finn, Volkmar Lauber, Ole Jess Olsen, Adrian Smith and two anonymous referees for useful comments on an earlier draft.2

Technological innovation systems in contexts: Conceptualizing contextual structures and interaction dynamics

“…One case in point is the focus on range as a key performance dimension of cars and the discussion on range anxiety in relation to electric vehicles. Another example is the dominance of the nuclear power issue in the Swedish energy debate, which has put the legitimacy of all renewable energy technologies into question (Jacobsson and Bergek, 2004). However, the 'legitimation' of incumbent sectoral technologies and technologies being developed by emerging TISs are often intertwined.…”

“…As institutional alignment enables access to resources and markets, firms individually and as a part of political networks compete to gain influence over institutions (Farla et al, 2012;Jacobsson and Bergek, 2004). As Van de Ven and Garud (1989, p. 210) put it: "firms not only compete in the market place but also in this political institutional context.…”

“…When the political context is explicitly considered it raises questions like: How do TIS actors forge political networks or coalitions that work towards policy changes in favour of the focal technology (Jacobsson and Bergek, 2004;Musiolik and Markard, 2011;Negro and Hekkert, 2008)? How do different political context structures impact on the lobbying strategies by advocates of new technologies (Kitschelt, 1986;Sabatier, 1998)?…”

Connecting the Mediterranean system of innovation: a functional perspective

“…According to Jacobsson and Bergek (2004) and Hekkert et al (2007), the fundamental reasons that justify the use of the functions approach are: 1) it allows researchers to conduct comparisons between innovation systems with different institutional set-ups; 2) it enables a more systematic method for mapping the determinants of innovation cycles and feedback loops and 3) it makes it possible to deliver a clear set of policy targets as well as methods to meet these targets. Table 1 presents selected contributions to the functions perspective, the four groups of innovation activities to be considered by policy makers and the suggested indicators that describe the overall dynamics of innovation systems.…”

Knowledge-Managing Sustainable Energy Schemes — An Innovative Approach

“…KMSE adopts a complex systems approach to analysing, designing, monitoring and controlling energy management schemes [7]. KMSE ensures that energy knowledge assets are appropriately developed, aggregated and diffused within the unit, sub-unit or super-unit.…”