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ICT, growth and productivity in the German energy sector - On the way to a smart grid?

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  • Wissner, Matthias

Abstract

This paper examines how the German energy industry has invested in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) capital during the years 1992-2005. Using the method of growth accounting I find that the contribution of ICT investment to the growth of value-added and average labour productivity (ALP) within the German energy industry has decreased in the years 2001-2005. The reasons for this can be many. However, policy and regulation are called to remove existing barriers to ICT investment to overcome this investment reticence and to exploit productivity potentials in all stages of the energy value chain as a necessary pre-condition for building Smart Grids.

Suggested Citation

  • Wissner, Matthias, 2011. "ICT, growth and productivity in the German energy sector - On the way to a smart grid?," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 19(1), pages 14-19, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:juipol:v:19:y:2011:i:1:p:14-19
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Khan, Muhammad Waseem & Wang, Jie, 2017. "The research on multi-agent system for microgrid control and optimization," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 1399-1411.
    2. Olorunfemi Yasiru Alimi & Omolara Ayotunde Campbell & Fatimah Ololade Bolarinwa, 2025. "Pathways to Achieving SDGs in Africa: Investigating the Impact of Digitalization and Labor Market Productivity on Income, Employment, Poverty, and Inequality," World Affairs, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 188(4), December.
    3. Shahnazi, Rouhollah, 2021. "Do information and communications technology spillovers affect labor productivity?," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 342-359.
    4. Haidar, Ahmed M.A. & Muttaqi, Kashem & Sutanto, Danny, 2015. "Smart Grid and its future perspectives in Australia," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 1375-1389.
    5. Evens Salies & Julia Bok, 2018. "Digital transformation of the energy sector [Transformation numérique du secteur de l'énergie]," Sciences Po Economics Publications (main) hal-04863553, HAL.
    6. Hidemichi Fujii & Akihiko Shinozaki & Shigemi Kagawa & Shunsuke Managi, 2019. "How Does Information and Communication Technology Capital Affect Productivity in the Energy Sector? New Evidence from 14 Countries, Considering the Transition to Renewable Energy Systems," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-16, May.
    7. Graf, Patricia & Jacobsen, Heike, 2021. "Institutional work in the transformation of the German energy sector," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    8. Solomon, Edna Maeyen & van Klyton, Aaron, 2020. "The impact of digital technology usage on economic growth in Africa," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 67(C).
    9. He, Ruifang & Liao, Xianchun & Xu, Yujie, 2025. "How does digital transformation affect high-quality development of China's power industry," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 217(C).
    10. Francisco J. Santos-Arteaga & Debora Di Caprio & Madjid Tavana, 2024. "Information and Communication Technologies and Labor Productivity: A Dynamic Slacks-Based Data Envelopment Analysis," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 15(3), pages 14076-14102, September.
    11. Wissner, Matthias, 2011. "The Smart Grid - A saucerful of secrets?," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 88(7), pages 2509-2518, July.
    12. Lingling Zhou & Tao Shi & Qian Zhou, 2023. "Is ICT Development Conducive to Reducing the Vulnerability of Low-Carbon Energy? Evidence from OECD Countries," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-22, January.
    13. Pedrini, Giulio & Cappiello, Giuseppe, 2022. "The impact of training on labour productivity in the European utilities sector: An empirical analysis," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    14. Aurelie Tricoire, 2015. "Uncertainty, vision, and the vitality of the emerging smart grid," Post-Print hal-02351994, HAL.
    15. Muench, Stefan & Thuss, Sebastian & Guenther, Edeltraud, 2014. "What hampers energy system transformations? The case of smart grids," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 80-92.
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    17. Lin, Chen-Chun & Yang, Chia-Han & Shyua, Joseph Z., 2013. "A comparison of innovation policy in the smart grid industry across the pacific: China and the USA," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 119-132.

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