Multilevel assessment of diversity, innovation and selection in the solar photovoltaic industry

Stijn T.A. van den Heuvel and Jeroen C.J.M. van den Bergh

Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, 2009, vol. 20, issue 1, pages 50-60

Abstract: We undertake an empirical study of the solar photovoltaic (PV) industry using evolutionary-economic concepts. Experts regard solar energy as a realistic option for sustainable energy provision in the long run. We identify the innovation and selection forces that drive the changes in the solar PV industry. In addition, a quantitative analysis using diversity indexes is performed at four levels of the solar PV industry: countries, technologies, applications and companies. Richness (number of alternatives) and evenness are calculated in order to describe and identify the changes that have occurred over time at each level. Most remarkable is that evenness has increased at the company level and decreased at the other three levels. We draw a number of policy conclusions.

Keywords: Diversity; index; Energy; policy; Renewable; energy; Solar; PV; Statistical; analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2009
View citations in EconPapers

Downloads: (external link)
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6VFN ... 29d65d8c0414511c80c0
Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: http://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:streco:v:20:y:2009:i:1:p:50-60

Access Statistics for this article

Structural Change and Economic Dynamics is edited by F. Duchin, H. Hagemann, M. Landesmann, R. Scazzieri, A. Steenge and B. Verspagen

More articles in Structural Change and Economic Dynamics from Elsevier
Series data maintained by Heidi Boesdal ().