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Marginalization of end-use technologies in energy innovation for climate protection

Nature Climate Change volume 2, pages 780–788 (2012)Cite this article

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Abstract

Mitigating climate change requires directed innovation efforts to develop and deploy energy technologies. Innovation activities are directed towards the outcome of climate protection by public institutions, policies and resources that in turn shape market behaviour. We analyse diverse indicators of activity throughout the innovation system to assess these efforts. We find efficient end-use technologies contribute large potential emission reductions and provide higher social returns on investment than energy-supply technologies. Yet public institutions, policies and financial resources pervasively privilege energy-supply technologies. Directed innovation efforts are strikingly misaligned with the needs of an emissions-constrained world. Significantly greater effort is needed to develop the full potential of efficient end-use technologies.

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Figure 1: An analytical framework of the innovation system for energy technologies.
Figure 2: Global mobilization of financial resources for energy technologies.
Figure 3: Technological emphasis of directed innovation efforts.

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Acknowledgements

We acknowledge the many useful discussions with our fellow authors of the Global Energy Assessment chapter on the Energy Technology Innovation System11: Francisco Aguayo, Leon Clarke, Laura Diaz Anadon, Marko Hekkert, Kejun Jiang, Daniel Kammen, Ruud Kempener, Osamu Kimura, Bernadette Kiss, Lynn Mytelka, Lena Neij and Anastasia O'Rourke.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, University of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK

    Charlie Wilson

  2. International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Schlossplatz 1, Laxenburg, A-2361, Austria

    Arnulf Grubler

  3. School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, Yale University, 195 Prospect Street, New Haven, 06511, Connecticut, USA

    Arnulf Grubler

  4. The Fletcher School, Tufts University, 160 Packard Avenue, Medford, 02155, Massachusetts, USA

    Kelly S. Gallagher

  5. La Follette School of Public Affairs, University of Wisconsin–Madison, 1225 Observatory Drive, Madison, 53706, Wisconsin, USA

    Gregory F. Nemet

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  1. Charlie Wilson
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  2. Arnulf Grubler
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All authors contributed to the intellectual content. C.W. and A.G. led the data collection and drafting of the text with contributions from K.S.G. and G.N. All authors reviewed and edited the text.

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Correspondence to Charlie Wilson.

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Wilson, C., Grubler, A., Gallagher, K. et al. Marginalization of end-use technologies in energy innovation for climate protection. Nature Clim Change 2, 780–788 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/nclimate1576

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