Assessing learning in low carbon technologies: Toward a more comprehensive approach

Abstract

With decades of experience developing and deploying low carbon technologies around the world, much has been learned. We assess six categories that represent the diversity of methodological approaches that have been used to study low carbon learning: (1) learning curves; (2) expert elicitations; (3) patent analysis; (4) engineering-based decomposition; (5) policy intervention studies; and (6) case studies. Based on a review of low carbon learning studies in these six areas, we summarize what we know about low carbon learning, and what we have yet to fully understand, including the methodological strengths and limitations of key studies conducted to date. We find that a more comprehensive understanding of low carbon learning is necessary and timely given the massive scale and short time horizon of the low carbon transition, and that there are real benefits to employing a comprehensive approach using multiple methods. We find a need for better data sets, and for studies of a more diverse set of technologies, as well as of interactions among technologies. In addition, studies should be more explicit about local context, with a particular need for additional focus on emerging and developing countries. We identify key topics that warrant further research, including technology specific learning methods; spatial distinctions and the local and global linkages that influence learning; and an expanded study of the cultural, social, environmental, and political factors that influence learning. Finally, we recommend more nuance in the design of policies directed at accelerating low carbon learning. This article is categorized under:The Carbon Economy and Climate Mitigation > Future of Global Energy K E Y W O R D S climate change, innovation, learning, low carbon technologies, methods 1 | INTRODUCTION Climate change necessitates the transition to a low carbon economy, presenting both challenges and opportunities. One main challenge is the scale of energy investment needed (estimated at between 1.6 and 3.8 trillion USD annually between 2016 and 2050) (Climate Policy Initiative, 2019; Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [IPCC], 2018), along with the need to overcome technological lock in and path dependency, all in a relatively short time horizon given looming climate disasters. However, many opportunities lie in the commercialization of low carbon energy

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