Building renewable energy innovation systems

Completed

Renewable Energy Sources(Ocean Energy)
Other Cross-Cutting Technologies or Research(Environmental, social and economic impacts)

Basic and strategic applied research

SOCIAL SCIENCES (Economics and Econometrics)
SOCIAL SCIENCES (Business and Management Studies)
SOCIAL SCIENCES (Psychology)
ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Mechanical, Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering)

Sociological economical and environmental impact of energy (Consumer attitudes and behaviour)
Sociological economical and environmental impact of energy (Technology acceptance)
Sociological economical and environmental impact of energy (Other sociological economical and environmental impact of energy)

Dr M Winskel
Energy Systems
University of Edinburgh

Standard

ESRC

01 February 2004

31 March 2006

26 months

£147,024

No relevance to Underpinning Sectors

Scotland

ESRC Energy

Dr M Winskel, Energy Systems, University of Edinburgh

Dr A McLeod, School of Geosciences, University of Edinburgh
Professor R Wallace, Energy Systems, University of Edinburgh
Professor R Williams, School of Social and Political Science, University of Edinburgh

Objectives not supplied

The BREIS project (2004-06) analysed the emerging marine energy innovation system in Scotland and the UK, and recent policy measures to promote this system. It found significant progress in marine energy innovation since the 2003 White Paper, with a number of new prototype designs emerging, and the progression of a few leading demonstration devices. At the same time, the sector still faces many challenges. International evidence suggests an important role for social capital and collaborative learning in early-stage renewables innovation, and there have been a number of Scottish and UK policy initiatives to promote networking and interaction. While these are having some success, the wider UK energy system is dominated by financial capital, and commercially-driven marine energy device developers have limited engagement in collaborative learning. International comparisons in renewable energy may underplay important differences of institutional context.

29/10/09