Title: Energy technology dynamics

Authors: Patrick Criqui, Jean-Marie Martin, Leo Schrattenholzer, Tom Kram, Luc Soete, Adriaan Van Zon

Addresses: Institut d'Economie et de Politique de 1'Energie, BP47, 38040 Grenoble CEDEX 09, France. ' Institut d'Economie et de Politique de 1'Energie, BP47, 38040 Grenoble CEDEX 09, France. ' Institute of International Applied Systems Analysis - ECS, Schlossplatz 1, 2361 Laxenburg, Austria. ' Netherlands Energy Research Foundation ECN, Unit Policy Studies, Westemduinweg 3, NL-1755 Petten, The Netherlands. ' Maastricht Economic Research Institute on Technology MERIT, P0 BOX 616, 6200 MC, The Netherlands. ' Maastricht Economic Research Institute on Technology MERIT, P0 BOX 616, 6200 MC, The Netherlands

Abstract: The paper aims to identify both the major changes that have occurred in the energy sector during the past thirty years and the key driving forces that explain these changes. After a review of the key concepts provided by economic theory in order to analyse technical change in Section 2, Section 3 proposes an historical analysis of three main clusters of innovations that have profoundly altered the energy sector in the last decades. Section 4 and Section 5 aim to provide empirical elements for the characterisation of the two driving forces to technical change, i.e. public R&D and ||learning by doing|| and experience effects. Finally, Section 6 and Section 7 provide insights for the design of energy technology policies, first with an assessment of the role of different types of uncertainties in technology dynamics and then by focusing on the role of public technology policies in the context of growing demand for cleaner technologies.

Keywords: technological change; energy: R&D; learning by doing; public policy; energy technology dynamics; clean technology.

DOI: 10.1504/IJGEI.2000.004416

International Journal of Global Energy Issues, 2000 Vol.14 No.1/2/3/4, pp.65 - 103

Published online: 10 May 2004 *

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