The rise of science in low-carbon energy technologies

RENEWABLE & SUSTAINABLE ENERGY REVIEWS

卷:139

Article

Hoette, Kerstin^1,2  Pichler, Anton^3,4,5  Lafond, Francois^3,4 

[1] Univ Oxford, Oxford Martin Programme Technol & Econ Change, Oxford OX1 3BD, England

[2] Univ Bielefeld, Fac Business Adm & Econ, D-33615 Bielefeld, Germany

[3] Univ Oxford, Oxford Martin Sch, Inst New Econ Thinking, Oxford OX1 3UQ, England

[4] Univ Oxford, Math Inst, Oxford OX1 3LP, England

[5] Complex Sci Hub Vienna, A-1080 Vienna, Austria

关键词: Low-carbon energy;    Patents;    Citation networks;    Non-patent literature;    Science-technology relationship;    History of technology;    Reliance on science;   

DOI  :  10.1016/j.rser.2020.110654

来源: Elsevier

【 摘 要 】

Successfully combating climate change will require substantial technological improvements in Low-Carbon Energy Technologies (LCETs), but designing efficient allocation of R&D budgets requires a better understanding of how LCETs rely on scientific knowledge. Using data covering almost all US patents and scientific articles that are cited by them over the past two centuries, we describe the evolution of knowledge bases of ten key LCETs and show how technological interdependencies have changed over time. The composition of low-carbon energy innovations shifted over time, from Hydro and Wind energy in the 19th and early 20th century, to Nuclear fission after World War II, and more recently to Solar PV and back to Wind. In recent years, Solar PV, Nuclear fusion and Biofuels (including energy from waste) have 35-65% of their citations directed toward scientific papers, while this ratio is less than 10% for Wind, Solar thermal, Hydro, Geothermal, and Nuclear fission. Over time, the share of patents citing science and the share of citations that are to scientific papers has been increasing for all technology types. The analysis of the scientific knowledge base of each LCET reveals three fairly separate clusters, with nuclear energy technologies, Biofuels and Waste, and all the other LCETs. Our detailed description of knowledge requirements for each LCET helps to design of targeted innovation policies.

【 授权许可】

Free