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Chapter 24 - Policies for the Energy Technology Innovation System (ETIS)
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- By Arnulf Grubler, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Austria and Yale University, Francisco Aguayo, El Colegio de México, Kelly Gallagher, Tufts University, Marko Hekkert, Utrecht University, Kejun Jiang, Energy Research Institute, Lynn Mytelka, United Nations University-MERIT, Lena Neij, Lund University, Gregory Nemet, University of Wisconsin, Charlie Wilson, Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, Per Dannemand Andersen, Technical University of Denmark, Leon Clarke, University of Maryland, Laura Diaz Anadon, Harvard University, Sabine Fuss, International Institute of Applied Systems Analysis, Martin Jakob, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Daniel Kammen, University of California, Ruud Kempener, Harvard University, Osamu Kimura, Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry, Bernadette Kiss, Lund University, Anastasia O'Rourke, Big Room Inc., Robert N. Schock, World Energy Council, UK and Center for Global Security Research, Paulo Teixeira de Sousa, Jr., Federal University Mato Grosso, Leena Srivastava, The Energy and Resources Institute
- Global Energy Assessment Writing Team
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- Book:
- Global Energy Assessment
- Published online:
- 05 September 2012
- Print publication:
- 27 August 2012, pp 1665-1744
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- Chapter
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Summary
Executive Summary
Innovation and technological change are integral to the energy system transformations described in the Global Energy Assessment (GEA) pathways. Energy technology innovations range from incremental improvements to radical breakthroughs and from technologies and infrastructure to social institutions and individual behaviors. This Executive Summary synthesizes the main policy-relevant findings of Chapter 24. Specific positive policy examples or key takehome messages are highlighted in italics.
The innovation process involves many stages – from research through to incubation, demonstration, (niche) market creation, and ultimately, widespread diffusion. Feedbacks between these stages influence progress and likely success, yet innovation outcomes are unavoidably uncertain. Innovations do not happen in isolation; interdependence and complexity are the rule under an increasingly globalized innovation system. Any emphasis on particular technologies or parts of the energy system, or technology policy that emphasizes only particular innovation stages or processes (e.g., an exclusive focus on energy supply from renewables, or an exclusive focus on Research and Development [R&D], or feed-in tariffs) is inadequate given the magnitude and multitude of challenges represented by the GEA objectives.
A first, even if incomplete, assessment of the entire global resource mobilization (investments) in both energy supply and demand-side technologies and across different innovation stages suggests current annual Research, Development & Demonstration (RD&D) investments of some US$50 billion, market formation investments (which rely on directed public policy support) of some US$150 billion, and an estimated US$1 trillion to US$5 trillion investments in mature energy supply and end-use technologies (technology diffusion).