Title: Component-learning for energy technologies: the case of hydrogen production

Authors: F. Ferioli, K. Schoots, B.C.C. Van der Zwaan

Addresses: Policy Studies Department, Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands (ECN), P.O. Box 56890, 1040 AW, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. ' Policy Studies Department, Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands (ECN), P.O. Box 56890, 1040 AW, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. ' Policy Studies Department, Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands (ECN), P.O. Box 56890, 1040 AW, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Lenfest Center for Sustainable Energy, The Earth Institute, Columbia University, New York, USA

Abstract: For the totality of a technology, the phenomenon of learning-by-doing may well result from learning only one or a few individual parts. In this paper, we show that the application of our component-learning hypothesis has important implications for hydrogen production. The observed Learning Rates (LRs) for the construction of hydrogen production plants prove not to translate to observable improvements for the costs of the entire hydrogen production process. We also conclude that limited future cost reductions can be expected for the investment costs of steam methane reforming plants. More scope exists for cost improvements in the construction of electrolysis facilities.

Keywords: energy technology; innovation policy; learning curves; hydrogen production; component learning; cost improvement; electrolysis.

DOI: 10.1504/IJIL.2009.026648

International Journal of Innovation and Learning, 2009 Vol.6 No.6, pp.625 - 640

Published online: 22 Jun 2009 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article