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Can electricity liberalisation foster the development of radical clean-energy technologies?

Author

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  • Matteo Romagnoli

    (Department of Economics, Management and Statistics, Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca)

Abstract

The paper investigates the effect of electricity liberalisation on the variety of clean energy patent’ search space to asses whether a more competitive electricity market can foster the development of radical clean-energy technologies. This idea is tested using a cross-section of patents filed in the period 1990-2017, a set of patent-level indicators and an instrumental variable approach. Results show that electricity liberalisation pushes clean-energy patents to cite knowledge from technological fields other than their own. However, the reform does not significantly affect the overall breath of the knowledge base of these patents. Additional insights are drawn by looking at the correlation between electricity liberalisation and an indicator of novelty in patents’ search space. The results are consistent with the claim that electricity liberalisation has a positive effect on the development of radical clean-energy technologies. At the same time, by describing how the reform changes clean-energy patents’ search space, they define this effect more precisely.

Suggested Citation

  • Matteo Romagnoli, 2022. "Can electricity liberalisation foster the development of radical clean-energy technologies?," Working Papers 2022.44, Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei.
    • Handle: RePEc:fem:femwpa:2022.44
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Barbieri, Nicolò & Marzucchi, Alberto & Rizzo, Ugo, 2020. "Knowledge sources and impacts on subsequent inventions: Do green technologies differ from non-green ones?," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 49(2).
    2. Geoffroy G Dolphin & Michael G Pollitt, 2020. "Identifying innovative actors in the Electricity Supply Industry using machine learning: an application to UK patent data," Working Papers EPRG2004, Energy Policy Research Group, Cambridge Judge Business School, University of Cambridge.
    3. Daron Acemoglu & Ufuk Akcigit & Murat Alp Celik, 2022. "Radical and Incremental Innovation: The Roles of Firms, Managers, and Innovators," American Economic Journal: Macroeconomics, American Economic Association, vol. 14(3), pages 199-249, July.
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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • L94 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Transportation and Utilities - - - Electric Utilities
    • O31 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Innovation and Invention: Processes and Incentives
    • Q42 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Energy - - - Alternative Energy Sources
    • Q55 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environmental Economics: Technological Innovation

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