Research, market and societal trends of sustainable energy experiments and demonstrations
A new review article uncovers the state-of-the-art and future avenues for research on experiments and demonstrations of sustainable energy technologies.
To diversify and accelerate the transition to sustainable production and consumption of energy technologies, innovative experiments and demonstrations are key. Experiments and demonstrations refer to experimenting, testing, understanding, designing, using, and improving new sustainable energy technologies in collaboration with stakeholders before such technologies may be scaled up to be commercially exploited.
Based on a Delphi study of 47 international scientific research experts in sustainable energy, the study presents a clear, comprehensive overview of how these experiments have transformed our energy systems in the past, how they're impacting the present, and what they could mean for the future.
The study develops a process model that provides additional detail to the earlier studies that have been scattered in shedding light on the structure of experiment and demonstration projects, their growth and scaling phases, and especially the socio-techno-economic processes that enable them. The findings shed light on sustainable energy technology portfolios and missions; experiments and demonstrations as inherent instruments for learning and market formation; and concentrating transformative upscaling on new cross-sectoral systems and institutions. A wide range of sustainable energy technologies is covered, including hydrogen and hydrogen fuel cells, photovoltaics, carbon capture and storage, biofuels, electric vehicles, smart grids and microgrids, airborne wind power, energy storage, electrofuels, advanced heating ventilation, geothermal energy, energy saving windows, smart connectors, and hydropower.
The findings encourage researchers to shift from isolated efforts to building integrated portfolios of sustainable technologies to ensuring resilience and longevity for users of sustainable energy technology innovation worldwide. This approach requires policy and business governance changes, emphasizing collaboration and recognizing the role of citizens in driving institutional change and knowledge transfer for a sustainable future.
The paper was published in Energy Research & Social Science by an international group of researchers, including SusTec Senior Researcher Dr. Jenni Kaipainen. For more details, you can find the full study Download here.