Clean energy storage technology in the making: An innovation systems perspective on flywheel energy storage
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In: Journal of Cleaner Production, Vol. 162, 20.09.2017, p. 1118-1134.
Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Clean energy storage technology in the making
T2 - An innovation systems perspective on flywheel energy storage
AU - Wicki, Samuel
AU - Hansen, Erik
N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2017 The Authors
PY - 2017/9/20
Y1 - 2017/9/20
N2 - The emergence and diffusion of green and sustainable technologies is full of obstacles and has therefore become an important area of research. We are interested in further understanding the dynamics between entrepreneurial experimentation, market formation, and institutional contexts, together playing a decisive role for successful diffusion of such technologies. Accordingly, we study these processes by adopting a technological innovation system perspective focusing on actors, networks, and institutions as well as the functions provided by them. Using a qualitative case study research design, we focus on the high-speed flywheel energy storage technology. As flywheels are based on a rotating mass allowing short-term storage of energy in kinetic form, they represent an environmentally-friendly alternative to electrochemical batteries and therefore can play an important role in sustainable energy transitions. Our contribution is threefold: First, regarding the flywheel energy storage technology, our findings reveal two subsystems and related markets in which development took different courses. In the automotive sector, flywheels are developing well as a braking energy recovery technology under the influence of two motors of innovation. In the electricity sector, they are stagnating at the stage of demonstration projects because of two important system weaknesses that counteract demand for storage. Second, we contribute to the theory of technological innovation systems by better understanding the internal dynamics between different functions of an innovation system as well as between the innovation system and its (external) contextual structures. Our third contribution is methodological. According to our best knowledge, we are the first to use system dynamics to (qualitatively) analyze and visualize dynamics between the diverse functions of innovation systems with the aim of enabling a better understanding of complex and iterative system processes. The paper also derives important implications for energy scholars, flywheel practitioners, and policymakers.
AB - The emergence and diffusion of green and sustainable technologies is full of obstacles and has therefore become an important area of research. We are interested in further understanding the dynamics between entrepreneurial experimentation, market formation, and institutional contexts, together playing a decisive role for successful diffusion of such technologies. Accordingly, we study these processes by adopting a technological innovation system perspective focusing on actors, networks, and institutions as well as the functions provided by them. Using a qualitative case study research design, we focus on the high-speed flywheel energy storage technology. As flywheels are based on a rotating mass allowing short-term storage of energy in kinetic form, they represent an environmentally-friendly alternative to electrochemical batteries and therefore can play an important role in sustainable energy transitions. Our contribution is threefold: First, regarding the flywheel energy storage technology, our findings reveal two subsystems and related markets in which development took different courses. In the automotive sector, flywheels are developing well as a braking energy recovery technology under the influence of two motors of innovation. In the electricity sector, they are stagnating at the stage of demonstration projects because of two important system weaknesses that counteract demand for storage. Second, we contribute to the theory of technological innovation systems by better understanding the internal dynamics between different functions of an innovation system as well as between the innovation system and its (external) contextual structures. Our third contribution is methodological. According to our best knowledge, we are the first to use system dynamics to (qualitatively) analyze and visualize dynamics between the diverse functions of innovation systems with the aim of enabling a better understanding of complex and iterative system processes. The paper also derives important implications for energy scholars, flywheel practitioners, and policymakers.
KW - Sustainability sciences, Management & Economics
KW - Technology innovation system
KW - functions of innovation systems
KW - green technology
KW - sustainable energy
KW - flywheel energy storage
KW - short-term storage
KW - batteries
KW - kinetic energy recovery systems
KW - Batteries
KW - flywheel energy storage
KW - functions of innovation systems
KW - green technology
KW - kinetic energy recovery systems
KW - short-term storage
KW - sustainable energy
KW - Technology innovation system
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85024105091&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - https://www.mendeley.com/catalogue/36059dcf-f3fc-3bc4-a141-7be5b301912b/
U2 - 10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.05.132
DO - 10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.05.132
M3 - Journal articles
C2 - 29263586
VL - 162
SP - 1118
EP - 1134
JO - Journal of Cleaner Production
JF - Journal of Cleaner Production
SN - 0959-6526
ER -