This paper explores innovation in wind energy in Denmark and Germany. It examines the key features and similarities of, and differences in each country’s technological and organizational innovation paths and sheds light on their main determinants. It finds that common features have roots in similar social and political priorities and decisions at the national level. The differences, on the other hand, tend to have roots in geographical conditions and company-level technology choices.
In the end, the paper briefly addresses the increasing global interconnectedness of wind technology markets and the role of emerging new players, such as China and India.
This Global Challenges Report analyzes the patent landscapes of four Climate Change Mitigation Technologies (CCMTs) to inform policy discussions by providing empirical evidence of innovation trends and technology ownership. The four CCMTs are biofuels, solar thermal, solar photovoltaic (PV) and wind energy. A broad market analysis of renewables and their policy frameworks are discussed in Section 2, followed by a scope and methodology section. The individual patent landscape analysis for each of the CCMTs is given in Sections 4 to 7, identifying and analyzing the range of patent activity, patent filings trends, top technology owners, patent concentrations, and market trends.
Each of these sections also includes anecdotal case studies to illustrate various features of the technology marketplaces and to situate the patent data into the context of market activity and business strategies. The report includes data from 1975-2011 and compares the 1975-2005 period to the 2006-2011 period.
A companion Global Challenges Brief also discusses key implications and considerations for policy and policymakers.
This report provides a comprehensive overview of the renewable energy market, industry, investment and policy developments worldwide. It covers recent developments, current status, and key trends; by design, it does not provide analysis or forecast. Prepared by REN21, a global renewable energy policy multi-stakeholder network, the report relies on up-to-date renewable energy data, provided by an international network of more than 500 contributors, researchers, and authors. This report, covering the year 2013, focuses on:
- Expansion of supporting policies in developing economies;
- Additions to electricity generating capacity;
- Progress made in renewables heating and cooling;
- Shifts in investments;
- Leaders in renewable energy deployment; and
- Evolution of the renewable energy field in the last decade.
This report was produced by the Decoupling Working Group of the International Resource Panel. It explores technological possibilities and opportunities for both developing and developed countries to accelerate decoupling and reap the environmental and economic benefits of increased resource productivity. It also examines several policy options that have proved to be successful in helping different countries to improve resource productivity in various sectors of their economy, avoiding negative impacts on the environment.
It does not seem possible for a global economy based on the current unsustainable patterns of resource use to continue into the future. The economic consequences of these patterns are already apparent in three areas: increases in resource prices, increased price volatility and disruption of environmental systems. The environment impacts of resource use are also leading to potentially irreversible changes to the world’s ecosystems, often with direct effects on people and the economy – for example through damage to health, water shortages, loss of fish stocks or increased storm damage.
The Institute of Development Studies (IDS), Tsinghua University, Indian Institute of Technologyu Delhi, and the German Developmen Institute (DIE), will be organizing the final conference from the international research project "Technological trajectories for low carbon development
This report focuses on the wind and solar PV sectors in India. It reviews the Indian policy framework for increasing the share of renewables in the energy mix within the context of multiple social, economic and technological objectives. Based on this analysis, it concludes that while support to the industry has come at a relatively low cost, development has been slow and many policies have been found wanting when evaluated against the originally proposed goals.
The report suggests that ‘green ’rather than ‘industrial’ elements have been best supported by policy to date. Impacts are most clearly seen in energy security and access, avoided health costs and the abatement of greenhouse gas emissions, while the industrial policy element has fared poorly in comparison. Marrying the two elements more completely will allow the benefits of a renewable energy manufacturing sector and environmental protection to be successfully realized.