Technology characteristics and catching-up policies: Solar energy technologies in Mexico
Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
Developing countries are giving increasing attention to industry development in renewable energy industries. Previous research highlights the influence of technology characteristics on such catching-up policies, distinguishing between complex products produced in small batches, and mass-produced simple products. We suggest that catching-up policies should move beyond this binary distinction between technologies. To illustrate this, we carry out a longitudinal analysis of catching-up policies in Mexico for two technologies – solar water heating and solar photovoltaics – that are both characterised as standard, mass-produced products, but which differ in degree of technological complexity. Our analysis highlights that the greater technological complexity of solar photovoltaics implies a larger focus of policies on providing access to resources in the form of knowledge, finance and legitimacy from abroad. Conversely, policies focusing on solar water heating had a greater domestic focus.
Original language | English |
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Journal | Energy for Sustainable Development |
Volume | 56 |
Pages (from-to) | 51-66 |
Number of pages | 16 |
ISSN | 0973-0826 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Jun 2020 |
Externally published | Yes |
- Catching-up, Mexico, Renewable energy policy, Solar photovoltaics, Solar water heating, Technology characteristics
Research areas
ID: 255102763