CREATING A RENEWABLE ENERGY ECOSYSTEM: EVIDENCE FROM INDIA

摘要

This paper develops a conceptual framework for the establishment and evolution of new industrial ecosystems drawing on theories of biological ecosystems (Vihervaara et al., 2010), industrial ecosystems and national systems of innovation. We argue that just as species diversity is critical for the provision of multiple services, ecosystem stability and resilience (Mitchell et al., 2013), diversity of organizational type (a range of organizations) may be necessary for the stability and resilience of an industrial ecosystem. Using case study methodology to examine the newly emergent renewable energy sector in India, the paper provides evidence to support the framework and suggests that organizations exhibit four types of diversity in this ecosystem: (1) Diversity of function; (2) diversity of form; (3) diversity of interactions; and (4) diversity of knowledge. Moreover, each organizational type in the ecosystem varies in prominence over time as the ecosystem evolves. These findings have important implications for the adoption and establishment of new technologies and the management of technology life cycle.