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Effects of technology complexity on the emergence and evolution of wind industry manufacturing locations along global value chains

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  • Kavita Surana

    (University of Maryland)

  • Claudia Doblinger

    (Campus Straubing for Biotechnology and Sustainability and School of Management, Technical University of Munich)

  • Laura Diaz Anadon

    (University of Cambridge)

  • Nathan Hultman

    (University of Maryland)

Abstract

Wind energy can contribute to national climate, energy and economic goals by expanding clean energy and supporting economies through new manufacturing industries. However, the mechanisms for achieving these interlinked goals are not well understood. Here we analyse the wind energy manufacturing global value chain, using a dataset on 389 component supplier firms (2006–2016) that work with 13 original equipment manufacturers. We assess how technology complexity, that is, the knowledge intensity and difficulty of manufacturing components, shapes the location of suppliers. For countries without existing wind industries, we find evidence of the emergence of suppliers for only low-complexity components (for example, towers and generators). For countries with existing wind industries, we find that suppliers’ evolution, that is, changes in their international supply relationships, is less likely for high-complexity components (for example, blades and gearboxes). Our findings show the importance of understanding technologies along with firms and countries within global value chains for achieving policy goals.

Suggested Citation

  • Kavita Surana & Claudia Doblinger & Laura Diaz Anadon & Nathan Hultman, 2020. "Effects of technology complexity on the emergence and evolution of wind industry manufacturing locations along global value chains," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 5(10), pages 811-821, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natene:v:5:y:2020:i:10:d:10.1038_s41560-020-00685-6
    DOI: 10.1038/s41560-020-00685-6
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    Cited by:

    1. Gallaher, Adam & Graziano, Marcello & Axon, Stephen & Bertana, Amanda, 2023. "Breaking wind: A comparison between U.S. and European approaches in offshore wind energy leadership in the North Atlantic region," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 187(C).
    2. Sharma, A. & Surana, K. & George, M., 2022. "Do clean energy trade duties generate employment benefits?," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 159(C).
    3. Harilal Krishna & Yash Kashyap & Dwarkeshwar Dutt & Ambuj D. Sagar & Abhishek Malhotra, 2023. "Understanding India’s low-carbon energy technology startup landscape," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 8(1), pages 94-105, January.
    4. Scheifele, F. & Bräuning, M. & Probst, B., 2022. "The impact of local content requirements on the development of export competitiveness in solar and wind technologies," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 168(C).
    5. Hernandez-Negron, Christian G. & Baker, Erin & Goldstein, Anna P., 2023. "A hypothesis for experience curves of related technologies with an application to wind energy," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 184(C).
    6. Doblinger, Claudia & Surana, Kavita & Li, Deyu & Hultman, Nathan & Anadón, Laura Díaz, 2022. "How do global manufacturing shifts affect long-term clean energy innovation? A study of wind energy suppliers," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 51(7).
    7. Garsous, Grégoire & Worack, Stephan, 2022. "Technological expertise as a driver of environmental technology diffusion through trade: Evidence from the wind turbine manufacturing industry," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 162(C).

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