Environmental Engineering Reference
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5 Conclusion
Our results are in line with the hypothesis that deployment and RD&D expenditure
both have an impact on technology development. Our
nding that the combination
of deployment and RD&D expenditures has a positive impact on patenting is in line
with two-factor learning curves.
Our results indicate substantial differences in the
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between the two analysed technologies. While solar patenting strongly coincides
with both past RD&D expenditures and deployment, wind patenting did not
coincide with deployment alone, but was strongest in countries that featured a
policy combination of RD&D expenditures and deployment. Whether this points to
idiosyncratic learning curves for each technology, or whether certain technology
families enjoy more similar learning curves or if technologies at a similar stage of
maturity enjoy similar learning curves, is left for further research.
In addition, our results indicate that timing, cross-border spillovers and tech-
nology spillovers matter for the success of support policies. With respect to timing,
the data suggests that a certain sequence of RD&D support and deployment is most
strongly linked to patenting. In particular we
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patent production function
nd that deployment based on earlier
RD&D expenditures strongly coincides with wind innovation. Cross-border spill-
overs play a positive role for wind deployment. Finally, we have (slight) evidence
that technology spillovers might matter for patenting.
6 Policy Implications
Our
ndings are in line with the hypothesis that both deployment and RD&D
support are effective in advancing technology development. Our results also imply
that the weight and timing of deployment and RD&D support matter. That is,
certain combinations of deployment and RD&D support are more efcient than
others. This calls for a strategic approach towards renewable energy technology
support. Furthermore, the existence of substantial cross-border spillovers from
deployment implies that international coordination might make renewable energy
technology support more ef
cient.
Consequently, going beyond an uncoordinated
is worthwhile,
though more research is necessary to identify support structures that are resilient
and ef
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shot-in-the-dark
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cient. In this respect, given the size of the issue (recall: about 48 bn Euro
spent on deployment and 315 mn Euro spent on RD&D support in the
ve largest
EU countries in 2012) investing more in ex - ante and ex - post evaluation of
renewable energy technology support schemes is a
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no regret option
'
.
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