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:
-
- 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}
}