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Title: Control of SO{sub 2} emissions from power plants: A case of induced technological innovation in the US

Abstract

This paper investigates how the details of government actions induce innovation-the overlapping activities of invention, adoption and diffusion, and learning by doing-in 'environmental technology,' products and processes that either control pollutant emissions or prevent emissions altogether. It applies multiple quantitative and qualitative measures of innovation to a case subject to several 'technology - push' and 'demand-pull', instruments: sulfur dioxide control technology for power plants. The study employs analyses of public R&D funding, patents, expert interviews, learning curves, conference proceedings, and experience curves. Results indicate that: regulation and the anticipation of regulation stimulate invention; technology-push instruments appear to be less effective at prompting invention than demand-pull instruments; and regulatory stringency focuses inventive activity along certain technology pathways. Increased diffusion of the technology results in significant and predictable operating cost reductions in existing systems, as well as notable efficiency improvements and capital cost reductions in new systems. Government plays an important role in fostering knowledge transfer via technical conferences, as well as affecting the pattern of collaborative relationships within the technical research community via regulatory changes that affect the market for the technology. Finally, the case provides little evidence for the claim that cap-and-trade instruments induce innovation more effectively than other instruments.

Authors:
; ;  [1]
  1. University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA (US). Goldman School Public Policy
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
20647584
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Technological Forecasting and Social Change
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 72; Journal Issue: 6; Journal ID: ISSN 0040-1625
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT; 20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS; FOSSIL-FUEL POWER PLANTS; AIR POLLUTION CONTROL; SULFUR DIOXIDE; USA; ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY; TECHNOLOGY UTILIZATION; POLLUTION LAWS

Citation Formats

Taylor, M R, Rubin, E S, and Hounshell, D A. Control of SO{sub 2} emissions from power plants: A case of induced technological innovation in the US. United States: N. p., 2005. Web. doi:10.1016/j.techfore.2004.11.001.
Taylor, M R, Rubin, E S, & Hounshell, D A. Control of SO{sub 2} emissions from power plants: A case of induced technological innovation in the US. United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2004.11.001
Taylor, M R, Rubin, E S, and Hounshell, D A. 2005. "Control of SO{sub 2} emissions from power plants: A case of induced technological innovation in the US". United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2004.11.001.
@article{osti_20647584,
title = {Control of SO{sub 2} emissions from power plants: A case of induced technological innovation in the US},
author = {Taylor, M R and Rubin, E S and Hounshell, D A},
abstractNote = {This paper investigates how the details of government actions induce innovation-the overlapping activities of invention, adoption and diffusion, and learning by doing-in 'environmental technology,' products and processes that either control pollutant emissions or prevent emissions altogether. It applies multiple quantitative and qualitative measures of innovation to a case subject to several 'technology - push' and 'demand-pull', instruments: sulfur dioxide control technology for power plants. The study employs analyses of public R&D funding, patents, expert interviews, learning curves, conference proceedings, and experience curves. Results indicate that: regulation and the anticipation of regulation stimulate invention; technology-push instruments appear to be less effective at prompting invention than demand-pull instruments; and regulatory stringency focuses inventive activity along certain technology pathways. Increased diffusion of the technology results in significant and predictable operating cost reductions in existing systems, as well as notable efficiency improvements and capital cost reductions in new systems. Government plays an important role in fostering knowledge transfer via technical conferences, as well as affecting the pattern of collaborative relationships within the technical research community via regulatory changes that affect the market for the technology. Finally, the case provides little evidence for the claim that cap-and-trade instruments induce innovation more effectively than other instruments.},
doi = {10.1016/j.techfore.2004.11.001},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/20647584}, journal = {Technological Forecasting and Social Change},
issn = {0040-1625},
number = 6,
volume = 72,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 2005},
month = {Fri Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 2005}
}