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Scaling up sustainable energy innovations

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  • Naber, Rolf
  • Raven, Rob
  • Kouw, Matthijs
  • Dassen, Ton

Abstract

Current electricity grids do not fit the needs and challenges of the 21st century, such as the need to transition to renewable energy sources and the variability in power supply concomitant with such energy sources. In this context, smart electricity grids have been proposed as a solution. A large number of pilots and experiments have been set up, but a key challenge remains how to upscale them. Upscaling is critically important to enable a wide-scale integration of renewable energy sources. This paper mobilises literature on the strategic management of experimental niches to explore the upscaling of smart grids in the Netherlands. On the basis of existing literature, a typology of four different patterns of upscaling is proposed: growing, replication, accumulation, and transformation. The relevance of this typology to understanding upscaling of smart grids is explored in a comparative qualitative case study design. On this basis we argue that the building of broad and deep social networks is important for growing and replication; articulating and sharing expectations is important for replication; and broad and reflexive learning processes are critical to transformation and replication. The paper concludes by arguing that these findings can provide important guidelines for future energy innovation policies.

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  • Naber, Rolf & Raven, Rob & Kouw, Matthijs & Dassen, Ton, 2017. "Scaling up sustainable energy innovations," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 110(C), pages 342-354.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:enepol:v:110:y:2017:i:c:p:342-354
    DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2017.07.056
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    11. Vaidyanathan, Geeta & Sankaranarayanan, Ramani & Yap, Nonita T., 2019. "Bridging the chasm – Diffusion of energy innovations in poor infrastructure starved communities," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 99(C), pages 243-255.
    12. Marianne Ryghaug & Michael Ornetzeder & Tomas Moe Skjølsvold & William Throndsen, 2019. "The Role of Experiments and Demonstration Projects in Efforts of Upscaling: An Analysis of Two Projects Attempting to Reconfigure Production and Consumption in Energy and Mobility," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(20), pages 1-15, October.
    13. Marc Dijk & Joop De Kraker & Anique Hommels, 2018. "Anticipating Constraints on Upscaling from Urban Innovation Experiments," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-16, August.
    14. Evers, Gerwin & Chappin, Maryse M.H., 2020. "Knowledge sharing in smart grid pilot projects," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 143(C).
    15. Maqbool, Amtul Samie & van der Waal, Esther & van der Windt, Henny, 2023. "‘Luctor et emergo’, how a community energy initiative survived the changing policy and technology landscape of the Dutch energy system?," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 177(C).
    16. Marina Van Geenhuizen & Razieh Nejabat, 2021. "Municipalities’ Policy on Innovation and Market Introduction in Sustainable Energy: A Focus on Local Young Technology Firms," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-18, February.
    17. Rae, Callum & Kerr, Sandy & Maroto-Valer, M. Mercedes, 2020. "Upscaling smart local energy systems: A review of technical barriers," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 131(C).
    18. Kalina, Jacek, 2023. "The quest for game changers - Review of new trends and innovations in the design of large-scale energy systems," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 277(C).
    19. Haddad, Carolina R. & Bergek, Anna, 2023. "Towards an integrated framework for evaluating transformative innovation policy," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 52(2).
    20. Willington Ortiz & Ulli Vilsmaier, 2022. "Transcending the Locality of Grassroots Initiatives: Diffusion of Sustainability Knowledge and Practice through Transdisciplinary Research," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-17, September.

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