Strategic policy to select suitable intermediaries for innovation to promote PV solar energy industry in China

• Published in: Applied energy Vol. 115; pp. 429 - 437
• Main Authors: Chen, Hsing Hung, Lee, Amy H.I., Chen, Silu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 15.02.2014; Elsevier
• Subjects: An interactive learning and communicating platform; Applied sciences; Carbon; China; Customers; Energy; Equipments, installations and applications; Exact sciences and technology; Interactive; Intermediaries for innovation; Natural energy; Photovoltaic cells; Photovoltaic conversion; Platforms; Solar cells; Solar energy; Strategic policy; Sustainable competitive advantage; Asia; China; Denmark, Copenhagen; China, People's Rep; Intermediaries for innovation; Sustainable competitive advantage; An interactive learning and communicating platform; Strategic policy; Industry; Innovation; Solar energy; Photovoltaic system; Secondary sector; Photovoltaic cell
• ISSN: 0306-2619; 1872-9118
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2013.10.034

•China is under pressure to prosper the photovoltaic (PV) solar energy industry.•An interactive learning platform for knowledge management is essential.•The paper proposes some conceptual assumptions.•Suitable intermediaries at different stages of PV energy industry are found. Ever since its commitment to the Copenhagen Accord of 2009 to lower its carbon emissions by 2020 to a level that will be 40% below those of 2005, China has been aiming to develop its photovoltaic (PV) solar energy industry. Because knowledge is a critical factor for obtaining a sustainable competitive advantage in a knowledge-intensive industry, it is essential to build up an interactive learning and communicating platform as a facilitator to absorb, distribute and create knowledge within a firm and among its suppliers and customers. However, relevant literature has, hitherto, never discussed such an intermediary platform for innovation. Therefore, this paper proposes some conceptual assumptions to solve this problem. After a practical investigation, this paper seeks to find suitable intermediaries for innovation at different levels of the PV solar energy supply chain in China.