Class-Otto Wene, previously for years the ETSAP technical representative for Sweden, and now
working at the IEA, is the author of this book.
Abstract
The fact that market experience improves performance and reduces prices is
well known and widely exploited in technology-intensive industries, but
sparsely used in analysis for energy technology policy. Knowledge of the
"experience effect" can help in the design of efficient programmes for
deploying of environment-friendly technologies. The effect must be taken
into account when estimating the future costs of achieving targets,
including targets for carbon dioxide reduction.
This book discusses issues raised by the "experience effect", such as
price-cost cycles, competition for learning opportunities in the market,
risk of "technology lockout" and the effects of research, development and
deployment policies on technology learning.
Case studies illustrate how experience curves can be used to set policy
targets and to design policy measures that will encourage both investment in
and use of environment-friendly energy technologies. Low-cost paths to
stabilising CO2 emissions are explored.
More info on this book (and how to order) is available at
the IEA site.
Other recent ETSAP partners' references on activities and examples related to technology learning are
also available on the ETSAP site.