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Bringing rigour to energy innovation policy evaluation

Author

Listed:
  • Jacquelyn Pless

    (MIT Sloan School of Management
    University of Oxford)

  • Cameron Hepburn

    (University of Oxford
    University of Oxford
    London School of Economics and Political Science)

  • Niall Farrell

    (Queen’s University Belfast
    Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK))

Abstract

Clean energy innovation is pivotal for low-cost energy sector decarbonization. Substantial public research and development funding is spent on energy innovation. Generating more evidence on which support mechanisms most effectively drive clean energy innovations, and why, could improve their design moving forward. In this Perspective, we discuss five challenges that researchers often face when attempting to rigorously evaluate energy innovation policies and public subsidy programmes. We recommend solutions, such as developing new innovation outcome metrics that consider unique features of the energy sector and building databases that cover long time periods. We also suggest that researchers and funding agencies work together to implement randomized control trials or conduct quasi-experimental evaluation of existing programmes and policies wherever possible.

Suggested Citation

  • Jacquelyn Pless & Cameron Hepburn & Niall Farrell, 2020. "Bringing rigour to energy innovation policy evaluation," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 5(4), pages 284-290, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natene:v:5:y:2020:i:4:d:10.1038_s41560-020-0557-1
    DOI: 10.1038/s41560-020-0557-1
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Singhal, Puja & Pahle, Michael & Kalkuhl, Matthias & Levesque, Antoine & Sommer, Stephan & Berneiser, Jessica, 2022. "Beyond good faith: Why evidence-based policy is necessary to decarbonize buildings cost-effectively in Germany," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 169(C).
    2. Farrell, Niall, 2023. "Policy design for green hydrogen," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 178(C).
    3. Wang, Bo & Zhao, Jun & Dong, Kangyin & Jiang, Qingzhe, 2022. "High-quality energy development in China: Comprehensive assessment and its impact on CO2 emissions," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 110(C).
    4. White, Lee V. & Hughes, Llewelyn & Lyons, Chell & Peng, Yuan, 2021. "Iterating localisation policies in support of energy transition: The case of the Australian Capital Territory," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 158(C).
    5. Jiang, Zihao & Shi, Jiarong, 2023. "Government intervention and technological innovation in the wind power industry in China: The role of industrial environmental turbulence," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 344(C).
    6. Mihail Nikolaevich Dudin & Vadim Nikolaevich Zasko & Olesya Igorevna Dontsova & Irina Valentinovna Osokina, 2022. "Methodology for Assessing Financial Results of Implementation of Energy Innovations Depending on their Progressiveness," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 12(1), pages 110-119.
    7. Bossink, Bart, 2020. "Learning strategies in sustainable energy demonstration projects: What organizations learn from sustainable energy demonstrations," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 131(C).
    8. Maximilian Gasser & Simon Pezzutto & Wolfram Sparber & Eric Wilczynski, 2022. "Public Research and Development Funding for Renewable Energy Technologies in Europe: A Cross-Country Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-28, May.

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