Frame conditions, innovation and growth opportunities in the energy area

The objective of the project is to analyse the frame conditions for development of energy technology in Denmark through an innovation and development perspective. The project is an analytical contribution to the discussion of the opportunities for energy technology development and the possible further improvement of frame conditions and public-private interplay in the energy area. The project will lead to considerable new insight in energy innovation and development dynamics in specific technology areas as well as generally. A direct occasion for the project is that the Danish Government in its Energy Strategy 2025 says that 'The Government will analyse the frame conditions for development of Danish energy technology in order to strengthen the innovative capabilities and the growth conditions for Danish companies with focus on among other things promotion of technology development in a public/private interplay'. It is this challenge that is taken up by the project. Conceptually the project employs a social science, innovation theory perspective; more precisely an innovation systems approach adjusted for the specific purpose. Empirically, departure is taken in the innovation dynamics, knowledge flows, competences etc. in five selected technology areas: bio fuels, hydrogen technology, wind power technology, solar cells, and energy efficient end-use technologies. In addition to this a broader questionnaire survey across the energy sector and its different actor groups is carried out. The connections between international and national aspects of the innovation dynamics are analysed. Whether there exists an actual, fully coherent energy innovation system, homogeneous across technology areas, or the conditions are highly diverse and varying between technology areas, is one of the interesting open questions that the project investigates