Download - Key policy considerations for low carbon technology transfer Dr David Ockwell 14 th June 2007
Sussex Energy GroupSPRU - Science and Technology Policy Research
Sussex Energy GroupSPRU - Science and Technology Policy Research
Key policy considerations
for low carbon technology
transfer
Dr David Ockwell
14th June 2007
Sussex Energy GroupSPRU - 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 GroupSPRU - Science and Technology Policy Research
Background & rationale
• Future emissions from rapid economic development
Emissions increases 1990-2001:
» India 61%
» China 111%
China to overtake US by 2010
India to equal China by 2030
(EIA 2004)
Sussex Energy GroupSPRU - 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 GroupSPRU - 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 GroupSPRU - 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 GroupSPRU - 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 GroupSPRU - Science and Technology Policy Research
Key considerations
1. No “one policy fits all” solution
2. Stage of technology development
Sussex Energy GroupSPRU - Science and Technology Policy Research
Stage of technology development
Stage of technology development
SectorsPre-
commercial Supported commercial
Commercial but slow diffusion
Low-carbon power generation technologies
Coal gasification
including IGCC Biomass including fuel supply chain
issues
Improving combustion efficiency
Network / infrastructure technologies
Low carbon end use technologies
LED lighting Hybrid vehicles
Sussex Energy GroupSPRU - Science and Technology Policy Research
Key considerations
1. No “one policy fits all” solution
2. Stage of technology development
3. Technological change and capacity building
4. Centrality of knowledge flows
Sussex Energy GroupSPRU - Science and Technology Policy Research
Essential knowledge flows
Technology
suppliers
Technology
importers
Technology
transferredSupplier
firms’ engineerin
g, managerial and other
technological
capabilities
Capital goods, services &
designs
Skills & know-how for
operation & maintenance
Knowledge & expertise
behind technology
Accumulation of
technological capacity
New production capacity
Flow A
Flow B
Flow C
Based on Bell (1990)
Sussex Energy GroupSPRU - Science and Technology Policy Research
Key considerations
1. No “one policy fits all” solution
2. Stage of technology development
3. Technological change and capacity building
4. Centrality of knowledge flows
5. Intellectual Property Rights (IPR)
“Necessary but not sufficient”
6. Absorptive capacity
Sussex Energy GroupSPRU - Science and Technology Policy Research
Key considerations
1. No “one policy fits all” solution
2. Stage of technology development
3. Technological change and capacity building
4. Centrality of knowledge flows
5. Intellectual Property Rights (IPR)
“Necessary but not sufficient”
6. Absorptive capacity
7. National policy environment
8. International policy environment
Sussex Energy GroupSPRU - 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 GroupSPRU - 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 GroupSPRU - Science and Technology Policy Research
Stage of technology development
SectorsPre-
commercial Supported commercial
Commercial but slow diffusion
Low-carbon power generation technologies
Coal gasification
including IGCC Biomass including fuel supply chain
issues
Improving combustion efficiency
Network / infrastructure technologies
Low carbon end use technologies
LED lighting Hybrid vehicles
Sussex Energy GroupSPRU - Science and Technology Policy Research
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 GroupSPRU - 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 GroupSPRU - 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 GroupSPRU - 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 GroupSPRU - Science and Technology Policy Research