ADOPTION AND DIFFUSION OFDECENTRALISED ENERGY

ABSTRACT



Energy market liberalisation, concerns about environmental pollution and climate change, and the dependence on fossil fuel imports render the adoption and of distributed generation technologies a field of research increasingly recognised as important. This paper contains a brief overview of both
commercially available and close-to-market distributed co-generation (CHP) technologies and fields of application. It also provides a thorough investigation on the adoption and diffusion of engine-based CHP systems in the German market since 1960. The empirical analysis is mainly based on a detailed data set of nearly 5,000 such systems installed in Germany until 1998. It makes use of descriptive data analysis, net present value calculations, and micro-econometric (hazard rate) modelling. We further assess market diffusion from 1998 until today and future diffusion prospects, and discuss impacts on the development that stem from liberalisation-driven energy market transformation processes. The results show that economic considerations alone do not suffice to explain the adoption decisions taken by investors, and also present some new insights with regard to the use of hazard rate models in the context of energy conversion technology adoption.
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Technology Transfer Trends

After the birth of the WTO in 1995, developing economies have had easier access to foreign technologies. The thrust has been towards development and transfer of technologies in new and emerging areas such as bio-technology, new materials, and drugs and pharmaceuticals. This article examines the emerging technological needs and technology transfer policies and practices in developing countries of the Asia-Pacific, with special reference to India. It also briefly discusses trends in technology-intensive exports over a period of eight years (1994-2002).
Introduction


The objectives and modes of technology transfer have undergone significant changes over the years, particularly alter the birth of the WTO in 1995, depending on the stages of development of various countries. The Republic of Korea, Taiwan, Singapore and Hong Kong were among the earlier countries that started opening up their economies and adopted market-driven policies. Later, China, Malaysia and others followed suit. In 1990 India announced its liberalized, new industrial policy and other policy measures,including the Foreign Direct investment (FDI) policy, which broadly aimed at enhancing international competitiveness and exports, and perceived FDI as an additional source of investment.
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