Collaborative Research: Diffusion of Emerging Energy Technologies within a State Context

新兴能源技术在国家范围内的传播这项跨学科研究考察了相互关联的、国家一级的社会政治影响对新兴能源技术的传播和部署的影响，这些技术有可能为减缓气候变化和能源安全的能源系统转型做出贡献。使用案例研究方法，本研究重点关注两种截然不同的新兴能源技术--风力发电和碳捕获与封存(CCS)；这两种技术都具有改变能源技术格局和大幅减少二氧化碳排放的巨大潜力。该项目利用对风电技术扩散历史的回顾分析，对将影响未来风能和CCS扩散的因素进行地面识别和相互作用分析。通过在六个地理和政治上不同的州(马萨诸塞州、明尼苏达州、德克萨斯州、密苏里州、新墨西哥州和纽约州)研究这两项技术，该项目将确定和评估国家能源技术系统的社会政治层面与利益相关者对技术风险和好处的看法之间的关系。这项研究的目的是：1)确定对州一级能源技术决策的主要社会政治影响；(2)学习风能技术的特定州扩散历史，以确定对不同州的大规模风能和CCS的发展和未来部署的重要变量；(3)比较和对比不同州之间社会政治因素的相对重要性和相互作用；(4)描述可能影响能源技术部署的许多社会政治变量之间的复杂相互作用；(5)通过整合技术传播、国家差异和风险感知方面的文献中的相关概念，为过渡管理理论做出贡献；(6)促进与能源技术部署有关的政策话语，以及政策如何促进社会对气候变化的反应。该项目战略性地整合了几个传统上独立的研究领域：技术传播和部署；能源和环境政策分析；国家比较分析和国家差异识别；以及公众对风险(和利益)的感知。这一整合将有助于关于可持续过渡管理的新兴文献的理论发展，并通过提供经验证据支持关于国家一级对转向更可持续的技术的社会政治影响的新理论，从而促进这些领域的理论发展。S项目对六个地理和政治上不同的州进行的比较分析特别有价值和独到之处。这项研究将提供可能加速我们能源技术基础设施转型的见解。这种加速既可以减少气候变化的威胁，也可以增强未来的能源安全。除了加深了解国家层面对技术传播的影响，我们的成果还将使能源专业人士、国家规划者、政策分析师、非营利组织和企业制定更有效的战略，让公众参与与风能和CCS技术以及其他新兴能源技术部署相关的能源政策的形成和实施。传统上相互独立的研究领域的独特和战略整合将加强和鼓励未来跨学科研究的机会。这项研究也对三所大学的本科生和研究生产生了重要的教育影响，这三所大学教授学生研究并为他们提供建议。

Diffusion of Emerging Energy Technologies within a State Context This cross-disciplinary research examines the interconnected, state-level, socio-political influences on diffusion and deployment of emerging energy technologies with potential to contribute to an energy system transformation for climate change mitigation and energy security. Using a case study approach this research focuses on two very different emerging energy technologies, wind power and carbon capture and storage (CCS); both have large potential to change the energy technology landscape and to dramatically reduce CO2 emissions. The project uses a retrospective analysis of the diffusion history of wind power technology to ground identification and analysis of the interplay of factors that will influence future diffusion of wind and CCS. By examining these two technologies in six geographically and politically diverse states (MA, MN, TX, MT, NM, and NY), the project will identify and evaluate relationships between the socio-political dimension of state energy technology systems and stakeholder perceptions of risks and benefits of the technologies. The analysis will characterize the interplay of socio-political factors influencing technology diffusion to provide diverse and valuable insights about potential state-level barriers and opportunities for these and other emerging energy technologies.The objectives of this research are to: 1) identify the dominant socio-political influences on energy technology decisions at the state-level; (2) learn from the state-specific diffusion history of wind technology to identify variables important for development and future deployment of large-scale wind and CCS in different states; (3) compare and contrast the relative importance and the interactions of socio-political factors across different states; (4) characterize the complex interactions among the many socio-political variables that have potential to influence energy technology deployment; (5) contribute to transition management theory by integrating relevant concepts drawn from literature in technology diffusion, state-difference, and risk perception; (6) contribute to the policy discourse related to energy technology deployment and how policy can facilitate a societal response to climate change.This project strategically integrates several traditionally separate areas of research: technology diffusion and deployment; analysis of energy and environmental policy; comparative analysis of states and identification of state difference; and public perceptions of risks (and benefits). This integration will contribute to theoretical development of the emerging literature on transition management for sustainability, as well as to theory development in each of these areas by providing empirical evidence to support new theory about state-level socio-political influences on shifting to more sustainable technologies. The project''s comparative analysis of six geographically and politically diverse states is particularly valuable and unique. This research will provide insights that may accelerate the transition of our energy technology infrastructure. Such acceleration could both reduce the threats of climate change and increase future energy security. In addition to increasing understanding of state-level influence on technology diffusion, our results will enable energy professionals, state planners, policy analysts, non-profits, and businesses to develop more effective strategies for involving the public in energy policy formation and implementation related to deployment of wind energy and CCS technologies, as well as other emerging energy technologies. The unique and strategic integration of traditionally separate areas of research will enhance and encourage future opportunities for cross-disciplinary research. This research also has an important educational impact among undergraduate and graduate students at the three universities where the three PIs teach and advise student research.