Characterization of the anticipated performance of energy technologies to inform policy decisions increasingly relies on expert elicitation. Knowledge about how elicitation design factors impact the probabilistic estimates emerging from these studies is, however, scarce. We focus on nuclear power, a large-scale low-carbon power option, for which future cost estimates are important for the design of […]
The future costs of nuclear power using multiple expert elicitations: effects of RD&D and elicitation design
10/09/2013 by
Clean and Dirty International Technology Diffusion
03/06/2013 by
This paper investigates the role of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) protection and Environmental Policies (EPs) on clean (renewable) and dirty (fossil-based) technology diffusion from top-innovators. IPR protection and EPs are extensively debated policy tools, as IPR protection addresses knowledge market failure, while EPs respond to pressing local and global environmental externalities. A model of monopolistic […]
The Rebound Effect: Implications of Consumer Behaviour for Robust Energy Policies
18/04/2013 by
In 2011 Elena Verdolini participated in an expert workshops on the subject of “Energy Efficiency Policies and the Rebound Effect”, in Washington DC, organised by The Climate and Energy Decision Making Center at Carnegie Mellon University (USA). The concluding report published by the International Risk Governance Council : ‘The Rebound Effect: Implications of Consumer Behaviour […]
Private and Public: An overview of RD&D investments in the Power Sector
13/01/2013 by
In this paper we make an explicit effort to collect, harmonize and describe data on power-related R&D from both the public and the private sector for a sample of 16 countries over the years 1995-2007. We focus on the upstream energy sector (power) due to both its’ relevance for energy security concerns and future climate […]
Heterogeneous Firms Trading In Ideas: An Application to Energy Technologies
01/12/2012 by
Notwithstanding the central role attributed to technology transfer (TT) and the effort to promote it through the creation of permanent international bodies such as the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice of the UNFCCC, very little is known about the determinants of this process with respect to energy technologies. This paper marries the literature on international trade […]
Meta-Analysis Of Expert Elicitations Of Future Technology Outcomes For Nuclear Power
01/11/2012 by
Verdolini, E., L.A. Diaz and G. Nemet (2012), “Meta-Analysis Of Expert Elicitations Of Future Technology Outcomes For Nuclear Power”, Mimeo, 12th IAEE European Energy Conference “Energy challenge and environmental sustainability“, September 9-12, 2012, Ca’ Foscari University of Venice.
Energy intensity developments in 40 major economies: Structural change or technology improvement?
11/10/2012 by
This study analyzes energy intensity trends and drivers in 40 major economies using the WIOD database, a novel harmonized and consistent dataset of input–output table time series accompanied by environmental satellite data. We use logarithmic mean Divisia index decomposition to (1) attribute efficiency changes to either changes in technology or changes in the structure of […]
What should we expect from innovation? A model-based assessment of the environmental and mitigation cost implications of climate-related R&D
11/01/2012 by
This paper addresses two basic issues related to technological innovation and climate stabilisation objectives: i) Can innovation policies be effective in stabilising greenhouse gas concentrations? ii) To what extent can innovation policies complement carbon pricing (taxes or permit trading) and improve the economic efficiency of a mitigation policy package? To answer these questions, we use […]
The Role of R&D+i in the Energy Sector
22/12/2011 by
Secure, reliable and affordable energy supplies are fundamental to economic stability and development. The current energy prospects are however unsustainable: concerns about energy security, the threat of disruptive climate changes and the growing energy needs of the developing world pose major challenges to energy decision makers. The aim of this paper is twofold. On one […]
Technological Change, Fuel Efficiency and Carbon Intensity in Electricity Generation: A Cross-Country Empirical Study
24/11/2011 by
This paper provides an empirical analysis of the determinants of energy efficiency in fossil fuel electricity generation across 28 OECD countries over the period 1981-2006, with particular attention to the role played by technological development and the availability of energy efficient technologies in the market. This contribution is novel in three respects: first, empirically assess […]
Report: Policy recommendations for SOLAR PV and CSP technologies
25/06/2011 by
SOLAR PV and CSP technologies Policy recommendations from the ICARUS survey on current state and future developments Solar PV and CSP technologies represent a concrete and promising solution to reduce the dependence from fossil sources, and therefore to meet climate change policy targets while ensuring reliable energy supply. The ICARUS team interviewed 16 leading experts […]
Efficiency Improving Fossil Fuel Technologies for Electricity Generation: Data Selection and Trends
16/02/2011 by
This paper studies innovation dynamics in efficiency improving electricity generation technologies as an important means of mitigating climate change impacts. Relevant patents are identified and used as an indicator of innovation. We find that patenting in efficiency improving technologies has mostly been stable over time, with a recent decreasing trend. We also find that majority […]
Environmental Policy and Technical Change: A Survey
22/11/2010 by
In this survey we review the literature that studies the relationship between environmental policy and technical change. We divide the literature in two broad areas of research. First, we look at the studies that evaluate the impact of environmental regulation on technological change after the implementation of environmental policy (ex-post). Second, we introduce the studies […]
At home and abroad: An empirical analysis of innovation and diffusion in energy technologies
19/10/2010 by
This paper contributes to the induced innovation literature by extending the analysis of supply and demand determinants of innovation in energy technologies to account for international knowledge flows and spillovers. We select a sample of 38 innovating countries and study how knowledge related to energy-efficient and environmentally friendly technologies flows across geographical and technological space.We […]
Data challenges for pressing research needs
06/08/2010 by
The interest for innovation and diffusion of energy technologies arises from the fact that technological advances in these fields can potentially reduce the costs of complying with a stringent climate change policy. Designing successful policies to promote innovation requires, however, a thorough understanding of innovation dynamics and drivers. This is true both for technologies that […]
19-20 May 2011: International Workshop on “Innovation in energy technologies: what can we learn from patent data?”
19/05/2010 by
The workshop is an opportunity for researchers coming from different backgrounds to present cutting edge research on themes related to the empirical analysis of drivers of innovation using patent data with a specific attention to clean energy technologies. Researchers will present their latest research in a formal workshop setting on May 19th, 2011. On the following morning, May 20th, those interested will have a chance to take part in a brainstorming session devoted to identifying future avenues of research and coordinating research efforts.
