The Development and Diffusion of Fuel Cell Technology as a Disruptive Innovation

Completed

Hydrogen and Fuel Cells(Fuel Cells, Stationary applications)
Other Cross-Cutting Technologies or Research(Environmental, social and economic impacts)

Basic and strategic applied research

SOCIAL SCIENCES (Economics and Econometrics)
ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Mechanical, Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering)

Not Cross-cutting
Sociological economical and environmental impact of energy

Professor C Hendry
Cass Business School
City University

R&D

ESRC

01 October 2002

30 September 2005

36 months

£242,782

Power

London

ESRC Sustainable Technologies Programme

Professor C Hendry, Cass Business School, City University

Professor D Arcoumanis, Sch of Engineering and Mathematical Sci, City University
Mr J Brown, Cass Business School, City University
Dr P Harborne, Cass Business School, City University

1. Identify and describe the key factors and processes determining the development, adoption and use of fuel cell technology in the UK in automotive, portable electronics, and heating/power, in terms of the key players influencing this and the interaction between company innovation processes and system drivers. 2. Identify the drivers and barriers to the development, adoption and use of fuel cell technology in these markets through an analysis of technology cycles in and across these industries, and develop lessons to optimise its take-up. 3. Identify lessons for disruptive innovation involving sustainable technologies in general, through examples of effective practice in related fuel cell markets. 4. Contribute to the general theory of radical innovation and practice, which has appli cation to the adoption of sustainable technologies generally.

The research studied the key factors determining the development, adoption and use of fuel cell technology, through the interaction of company processes and system drivers (including local and national government actions)in the USA, Germany, UK and Japan. By drawing on experiences of fuel cell innovation in different markets, the research provides lessons for innovation in the particular technology of fuel cells and for its adoption in the UK, while also contributing to the theory of radical innovation and practice, which has application to the adoption of sustainable technologies in general.

01/01/07