Transformative innovation policy for solar energy: particularities of a developing country

摘要

The study of transformative policies and how they can promote the spread of a technology connects interests among different actors such as government, industry, and academia, who seek solutions for the use of renewable energy, among them solar energy. This study investigates transformative innovation policy for the solar PV energy in Brazil from a sociotechnical perspective of innovation and suggests ways to better promote this technology in Brazil. This study was based on data from two different information sources: (1) in-depth interviews with actors in the Brazilian national innovation system; and (2) secondary data from energy sector in Brazil. With an analysis that is unprecedented for Brazil, the study presents a proposal for transformative innovation policies for the sociotechnical transition process of solar energy in Brazil. The results indicate the need for incentive policies to develop the Brazilian domestic solar panel industry across the whole value chain, as well as for the definition of policies to encourage technological innovation and the formation of cooperation networks among the actors of the system as key elements to promote and disseminate this technology in Brazil.[GRAPHICS].