Sussex Energy Group
SPRU - Science and Technology Policy Research
Key policy considerations for low
carbon technology transfer
Dr David Ockwell
14th June 2007
[email protected]
Sussex Energy Group
SPRU - Science and Technology Policy Research
Overview
1. Background & rationale
2. Methods & approach
3. Key considerations for low carbon technology transfer
4. Future research
Sussex Energy Group
SPRU - Science and Technology Policy Research
Background & rationale
• Future emissions from rapid economic development
 Emissions increases 1990-2001:
»
»
India
China
61%
111%
 China to overtake US by 2010
 India to equal China by 2030
(EIA 2004)
Sussex Energy Group
SPRU - Science and Technology Policy Research
Background & rationale
• Radical vs. incremental improvements
 E.g. increase average efficiency of coal fired power
stations from 33% to 45% between now and 2030
= annual reductions of:
China:
872 million tonnes of CO2 per year
India:
238 million tonnes of CO2 per year
UK economy wide emissions in 2006: 561 million t CO2
Estimates based on IEA (2006) forecasts
Sussex Energy Group
SPRU - Science and Technology Policy Research
UK-India Collaborative Study
Background:
•
G8 Gleneagles 2005: Developing countries pressed for new approach
to international cooperation on clean energy technologies
•
UK Government and the Government of India decide to collaborate on
study to assess barriers to transfer of low carbon energy technology
between developed and developing countries
Sussex Energy Group
SPRU - Science and Technology Policy Research
UK-India Collaborative Study
Aim:
1. Identify barriers to successful technology transfer
2. Identify key policy considerations for overcoming barriers
Sussex Energy Group
SPRU - Science and Technology Policy Research
Study approach
1. Literature review
2. Five technology case studies
i.
Coal gasification including IGCC
ii.
LED lighting
iii. Biomass
iv. Hybrid vehicles
v. Improving combustion efficiency
3. Analysis and recommendations
Sussex Energy Group
SPRU - Science and Technology Policy Research
Key considerations
1. No “one policy fits all” solution
2. Stage of technology development
Sussex Energy Group
SPRU - Science and Technology Policy Research
Stage of technology development
Stage of technology development
Pre-commercial
Sectors
Low-carbon power
generation
technologies
Coal gasification
including IGCC
Network /
infrastructure
technologies
Low carbon end use
technologies
LED lighting
Supported
commercial
Biomass
including fuel
supply chain
issues
Hybrid vehicles
Sussex Energy Group
SPRU - Science and Technology Policy Research
Commercial but
slow diffusion
Improving
combustion
efficiency
Key considerations
1.
2.
3.
4.
No “one policy fits all” solution
Stage of technology development
Technological change and capacity building
Centrality of knowledge flows
Sussex Energy Group
SPRU - Science and Technology Policy Research
Essential knowledge flows
Technology
suppliers
Supplier firms’
engineering,
managerial
and other
technological
capabilities
Technology
transferred
Flow A
Flow B
Flow C
Capital goods,
services & designs
Technology
importers
New production
capacity
Skills & know-how for
operation &
maintenance
Knowledge &
expertise behind
technology
Sussex Energy Group
SPRU - Science and Technology Policy Research
Accumulation of
technological
capacity
Based on Bell (1990)
Key considerations
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
No “one policy fits all” solution
Stage of technology development
Technological change and capacity building
Centrality of knowledge flows
Intellectual Property Rights (IPR)
“Necessary but not sufficient”
6. Absorptive capacity
Sussex Energy Group
SPRU - Science and Technology Policy Research
Key considerations
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
No “one policy fits all” solution
Stage of technology development
Technological change and capacity building
Centrality of knowledge flows
Intellectual Property Rights (IPR)
“Necessary but not sufficient”
6. Absorptive capacity
7. National policy environment
8. International policy environment
Sussex Energy Group
SPRU - Science and Technology Policy Research
Future research
1. Taxonomy of barriers to technology transfer
2. Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs)
3. Mechanisms to facilitate joint R&D
Sussex Energy Group
SPRU - Science and Technology Policy Research
Taxonomy of barriers to technology transfer
•
Practical framework for policy makers
•
Generalisations on likely barriers and policy implications
•
Stage of technology development?
•
Nature of technology?
Sussex Energy Group
SPRU - Science and Technology Policy Research
Stage of technology development
Pre-commercial
Sectors
Low-carbon power
generation
technologies
Coal gasification
including IGCC
Network /
infrastructure
technologies
Low carbon end use
technologies
LED lighting
Supported
commercial
Biomass
including fuel
supply chain
issues
Hybrid vehicles
Sussex Energy Group
SPRU - Science and Technology Policy Research
Commercial but
slow diffusion
Improving
combustion
efficiency
Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs)
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Necessary but not sufficient?
Energy technologies, not necessarily low carbon
Technologies where IPRs prohibitive
Technologies where IPRs not an issue
Comparisons with other sectors e.g. pharmaceuticals
Possible contributing factors to IPR related barriers:
 parties involved in negotiations
 how the issues were pitched
 domestic policy environments in host countries
 different commercial interests in industrialised countries
Potential for joint R&D
Sussex Energy Group
SPRU - Science and Technology Policy Research
Mechanisms to facilitate joint R&D
•
Specific mechanisms for facilitating joint RDD&D between
developed & developing countries, including private sector
involvement
•
Assessment criteria for analysing likely success of different
mechanisms
•
Analyse existing initiatives e.g. IEA implementing
agreements, Asia-Pacific Partnership
•
Analyse existing technological capacities in low carbon
technologies amongst Indian firms -> recommendations on
which technologies have highest potential to benefit
Sussex Energy Group
SPRU - Science and Technology Policy Research
Summary
1. Background & rationale
2. Methods & approach
3. Key considerations for low carbon technology transfer
4. Future research
Sussex Energy Group
SPRU - Science and Technology Policy Research
Conclusion
• Key considerations need to guide policy development
• No “one policy fits all” solution
• Further empirical research required to inform effective policy
actions
• Tension between urgency and need for long term effectiveness
Sussex Energy Group
SPRU - Science and Technology Policy Research
Sussex Energy Group
SPRU - Science and Technology Policy Research