Clean energy technology pathways from research to commercialization: Policy and practice case studies
Clean energy research and development (R and D) leading to commercial technologies is vital to economic development, technology competitiveness, and reduced environmental impact. Over the past 30 years, such efforts have advanced technology performance and reduced cost by leveraging network effects...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-11-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Energy Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenrg.2022.1011990/full |
| _version_ | 1811189228464242688 |
|---|---|
| author | Jill A. Engel-Cox Wyatt G. Merrill Marie K. Mapes Ben C. McKenney Antonio M. Bouza Edgar DeMeo Mary Hubbard Eric L. Miller Richard Tusing Brian J. Walker |
| author_facet | Jill A. Engel-Cox Wyatt G. Merrill Marie K. Mapes Ben C. McKenney Antonio M. Bouza Edgar DeMeo Mary Hubbard Eric L. Miller Richard Tusing Brian J. Walker |
| author_sort | Jill A. Engel-Cox |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Clean energy research and development (R and D) leading to commercial technologies is vital to economic development, technology competitiveness, and reduced environmental impact. Over the past 30 years, such efforts have advanced technology performance and reduced cost by leveraging network effects and economies of scale. After demonstrating promise in applied R and D, successful clean energy and energy efficiency technologies are incorporated into an initial product sold by the private sector. Despite its importance, processes by which first commercialization occurs are difficult to generalize while capturing specific insights from practitioners in markets and technologies. This paper presents a policy-focused qualitative assessment of the first commercialization of four diverse energy technologies: thin film photovoltaics, wind turbine blades, dual-stage refrigeration evaporators, and fuel cells for material handling equipment. Each technology presents distinct value propositions, markets, and regulatory drivers. The case studies indicate three common characteristics of successful first commercialization for new energy technologies: 1) good fit between the technology, R&D infrastructure, and public-private partnership models; 2) high degree of alignment of government regulations and R&D priorities with market forces; and 3) compatibility between time scales required for R&D, product development, and opportunities. These findings may inform energy investment decision-making, maximize benefits from R&D, and advance the transition to a low-emission future. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T14:32:23Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d2239dc3c93544c496145f285b902b43 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-598X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T14:32:23Z |
| publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Energy Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-d2239dc3c93544c496145f285b902b432022-12-22T04:18:32ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Energy Research2296-598X2022-11-011010.3389/fenrg.2022.10119901011990Clean energy technology pathways from research to commercialization: Policy and practice case studiesJill A. Engel-Cox0Wyatt G. Merrill1Marie K. Mapes2Ben C. McKenney3Antonio M. Bouza4Edgar DeMeo5Mary Hubbard6Eric L. Miller7Richard Tusing8Brian J. Walker9Joint Institute for Strategic Energy Analysis, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden Colorado, CO, United StatesU S Department of Energy, Washington, DC, United StatesU S Department of Energy, Washington, DC, United StatesJoint Institute for Strategic Energy Analysis, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden Colorado, CO, United StatesU S Department of Energy, Washington, DC, United StatesRenewable Energy Consulting Services, Inc, Palo Alto, CA, United StatesU S Department of Energy, Washington, DC, United StatesU S Department of Energy, Washington, DC, United StatesU S Department of Energy, Washington, DC, United StatesU S Department of Energy, Washington, DC, United StatesClean energy research and development (R and D) leading to commercial technologies is vital to economic development, technology competitiveness, and reduced environmental impact. Over the past 30 years, such efforts have advanced technology performance and reduced cost by leveraging network effects and economies of scale. After demonstrating promise in applied R and D, successful clean energy and energy efficiency technologies are incorporated into an initial product sold by the private sector. Despite its importance, processes by which first commercialization occurs are difficult to generalize while capturing specific insights from practitioners in markets and technologies. This paper presents a policy-focused qualitative assessment of the first commercialization of four diverse energy technologies: thin film photovoltaics, wind turbine blades, dual-stage refrigeration evaporators, and fuel cells for material handling equipment. Each technology presents distinct value propositions, markets, and regulatory drivers. The case studies indicate three common characteristics of successful first commercialization for new energy technologies: 1) good fit between the technology, R&D infrastructure, and public-private partnership models; 2) high degree of alignment of government regulations and R&D priorities with market forces; and 3) compatibility between time scales required for R&D, product development, and opportunities. These findings may inform energy investment decision-making, maximize benefits from R&D, and advance the transition to a low-emission future.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenrg.2022.1011990/fullrenewable energyenergy policytechnology commercializationphotovoltaicswind turbinesrefrigeration |
| spellingShingle | Jill A. Engel-Cox Wyatt G. Merrill Marie K. Mapes Ben C. McKenney Antonio M. Bouza Edgar DeMeo Mary Hubbard Eric L. Miller Richard Tusing Brian J. Walker Clean energy technology pathways from research to commercialization: Policy and practice case studies Frontiers in Energy Research renewable energy energy policy technology commercialization photovoltaics wind turbines refrigeration |
| title | Clean energy technology pathways from research to commercialization: Policy and practice case studies |
| title_full | Clean energy technology pathways from research to commercialization: Policy and practice case studies |
| title_fullStr | Clean energy technology pathways from research to commercialization: Policy and practice case studies |
| title_full_unstemmed | Clean energy technology pathways from research to commercialization: Policy and practice case studies |
| title_short | Clean energy technology pathways from research to commercialization: Policy and practice case studies |
| title_sort | clean energy technology pathways from research to commercialization policy and practice case studies |
| topic | renewable energy energy policy technology commercialization photovoltaics wind turbines refrigeration |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenrg.2022.1011990/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jillaengelcox cleanenergytechnologypathwaysfromresearchtocommercializationpolicyandpracticecasestudies AT wyattgmerrill cleanenergytechnologypathwaysfromresearchtocommercializationpolicyandpracticecasestudies AT mariekmapes cleanenergytechnologypathwaysfromresearchtocommercializationpolicyandpracticecasestudies AT bencmckenney cleanenergytechnologypathwaysfromresearchtocommercializationpolicyandpracticecasestudies AT antoniombouza cleanenergytechnologypathwaysfromresearchtocommercializationpolicyandpracticecasestudies AT edgardemeo cleanenergytechnologypathwaysfromresearchtocommercializationpolicyandpracticecasestudies AT maryhubbard cleanenergytechnologypathwaysfromresearchtocommercializationpolicyandpracticecasestudies AT ericlmiller cleanenergytechnologypathwaysfromresearchtocommercializationpolicyandpracticecasestudies AT richardtusing cleanenergytechnologypathwaysfromresearchtocommercializationpolicyandpracticecasestudies AT brianjwalker cleanenergytechnologypathwaysfromresearchtocommercializationpolicyandpracticecasestudies |