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Spaces for sustainable innovation: solar photovoltaic electricity in the UK

journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-08, 13:37 authored by Adrian SmithAdrian Smith, Florian Kern, Rob Raven, Bram Verhees
This paper engages with recent research concerning the roles of niche spaces in the strategic management of sustainable innovations. Whilst a growing body of empirical investigation looks to developments within these spaces, it is surprising how little pauses to consider how the spaces themselves develop over time, what constitutes these spaces, and how their characteristics influence sustainable innovation. We explore such questions through a case study into the history of solar photovoltaic electricity generation over the last 40 years in the UK. Whilst we see evidence consistent with recent ideas about niche spaces shielding, nurturing, and empowering sustainable innovation, the main thrust of our analysis concludes that this arises in contested and compromised ways. Moreover, our analysis identifies niche space developing through the political ability of technology advocates recursively interpreting, representing, and negotiating between the content and contexts of innovation.

History

Publication status

  • Published

Journal

Technological Forecasting & Social Change

ISSN

0040-1625

Publisher

Elsevier

Volume

81

Page range

115-130

Department affiliated with

  • SPRU - Science Policy Research Unit Publications

Full text available

  • No

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2013-05-02

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