Technological learning and renewable energy costs: implications for US renewable energy policy

This paper analyzes the relationship between current renewable energy technology costs and cumulative production, research, development and demonstration expenditures, and other institutional influences. Combining the theoretical framework of ‘learning by doing’ and developments in ‘learning by sear...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inEnergy policy Vol. 34; no. 13; pp. 1645 - 1658
Main Authors Kobos, Peter H., Erickson, Jon D., Drennen, Thomas E.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.09.2006
Elsevier
Elsevier Science Ltd
SeriesEnergy Policy
Subjects
Alternative energy sources
Applied sciences
Cost estimates
Cost minimization
Cost-benefit analysis
Costs
Economic data
Economic models
Electric energy
Electricity
Energy
Energy economics
Energy industry
Energy policy
Exact sciences and technology
General, economic and professional studies
Learning by doing
Methodology
Natural energy
New technology
Policy studies
R&D
Renewable energy costs
Renewable energy sources
Renewable resources
Research & development
Research and development
Research expenditures
Studies
U.S.A
United States
North America
America
USA
Research expenditures
Renewable energy costs
Learning by doing
Demonstration unit
Market penetration
Implementation
Research and development
Learning
Solar cell
Wind energy
Renewable energy
Expenditure
Solar energy
Photovoltaic array
Electric power production
Cost analysis
Industrialized country
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Summary:This paper analyzes the relationship between current renewable energy technology costs and cumulative production, research, development and demonstration expenditures, and other institutional influences. Combining the theoretical framework of ‘learning by doing’ and developments in ‘learning by searching’ with the fields of organizational learning and institutional economics offers a complete methodological framework to examine the underlying capital cost trajectory when developing electricity cost estimates used in energy policy planning models. Sensitivities of the learning rates for global wind and solar photovoltaic technologies to changes in the model parameters are tested. The implications of the results indicate that institutional policy instruments play an important role for these technologies to achieve cost reductions and further market adoption.
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ISSN:0301-4215
1873-6777
DOI:10.1016/j.enpol.2004.12.008