technologies. Whether the world can reach a
more binding and powerful action plan to address
climate change will directly affect progress of the
shift to new energy technologies.
3.4 International Competition Based
on Resource Endowments
The energy technology revolution will eventually
generate new and important sectors, which will
impact international competition. As a result, all
major countries value highly the energy technology revolution. In recent years, the major
energy powers have introduced an array of regulations, policies and actions to accelerate energy
technology innovation, striving to occupy a
vantage point and sharpen national competitiveness. This competition between nations spurs
innovation across a diverse range of energy
technologies.
The USA under the Obama presidency introduced the All-of-the-Above Energy Strategy,
which identified science and energy as a top
priority. The strategy aimed to create a complete
energy technology innovation value chain, from
basic research to final market solutions. It
focused on accelerating low-carbon and clean
energy technology development—especially
solar power and fourth generation and modular
nuclear power—and energy efficiency. The USA
has also established many new energy R&D and
innovation platforms, including the Advanced
Research Projects Agency—Energy (ARPA-E)
and the Energy Innovation Center to support
game-changing energy technology development
and effectively integrate resources from companies, universities and research institutions.
Japan has unveiled strategic plans, including
the Energy and Environment Innovation Strategy
for 2030, which sets guidelines for the country’s
energy security, economic efficiency, environmental protection and safety. The strategy supports the development of nuclear energy, energy
efficiency, renewables, new energy storage
technologies, and advanced coal utilisation
technologies like integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) and integrated gasification
fuel cell cycle. After the Fukushima disaster in
2011, Japan updated its Basic Energy Plan and
adjusted its priorities for energy technology
development, including speeding up the development of renewables and reducing the share of
nuclear energy. The Energy and Environment
Technology Innovation Strategy targets for 2030
and 2050 include increased R&D investment to
ensure Japan’s global leadership in new energy
technologies and applications.
The EU has developed strategic plans,
including the Energy Roadmap 2050, to highlight the principal role of renewable energy in
energy supply and develop ideas for smart grids,
carbon capture and storage (CCS), nuclear fusion
and energy efficiency. In September 2015, the
EU announced the Integrated Strategic Energy
Technology Plan (ISET-Plan) to drive the transition to a low-carbon energy system. Similarly,
after announcing its nuclear phase-out plan,
Germany has prioritised renewable energy and
energy efficiency improvement technologies, and
generally adjusted its policies for energy technology development and deployment.
Competition between countries can also be
reflected in many specific fields. For example,
major car manufacturing countries are accelerating the development of new energy vehicles.
The USA adopted the EV Everywhere Grand
Challenge Blueprint and the Intelligent Transportation System Strategic Plan 2015–19 to
promote the development of new energy vehicles
and an intelligent transport system. The EU
introduced the Strategic Innovation Plan 2020
and the Intelligent Transport System Development Plan to promote a low-carbon and intelligent transport system. Japan’s Next-Generation
Vehicle Strategy 2010 and Automobile Industry
Strategy 2014 prioritise the development of new
energy and fuel-efficient vehicles. In China, the
Action Plan for Innovation in the Energy Technology Revolution (2016–30) prioritises electric
vehicle energy storage and wireless charging
technologies in the energy technology revolution.
308
S. Zifeng and N. Dickens
more binding and powerful action plan to address
climate change will directly affect progress of the
shift to new energy technologies.
3.4 International Competition Based
on Resource Endowments
The energy technology revolution will eventually
generate new and important sectors, which will
impact international competition. As a result, all
major countries value highly the energy technology revolution. In recent years, the major
energy powers have introduced an array of regulations, policies and actions to accelerate energy
technology innovation, striving to occupy a
vantage point and sharpen national competitiveness. This competition between nations spurs
innovation across a diverse range of energy
technologies.
The USA under the Obama presidency introduced the All-of-the-Above Energy Strategy,
which identified science and energy as a top
priority. The strategy aimed to create a complete
energy technology innovation value chain, from
basic research to final market solutions. It
focused on accelerating low-carbon and clean
energy technology development—especially
solar power and fourth generation and modular
nuclear power—and energy efficiency. The USA
has also established many new energy R&D and
innovation platforms, including the Advanced
Research Projects Agency—Energy (ARPA-E)
and the Energy Innovation Center to support
game-changing energy technology development
and effectively integrate resources from companies, universities and research institutions.
Japan has unveiled strategic plans, including
the Energy and Environment Innovation Strategy
for 2030, which sets guidelines for the country’s
energy security, economic efficiency, environmental protection and safety. The strategy supports the development of nuclear energy, energy
efficiency, renewables, new energy storage
technologies, and advanced coal utilisation
technologies like integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) and integrated gasification
fuel cell cycle. After the Fukushima disaster in
2011, Japan updated its Basic Energy Plan and
adjusted its priorities for energy technology
development, including speeding up the development of renewables and reducing the share of
nuclear energy. The Energy and Environment
Technology Innovation Strategy targets for 2030
and 2050 include increased R&D investment to
ensure Japan’s global leadership in new energy
technologies and applications.
The EU has developed strategic plans,
including the Energy Roadmap 2050, to highlight the principal role of renewable energy in
energy supply and develop ideas for smart grids,
carbon capture and storage (CCS), nuclear fusion
and energy efficiency. In September 2015, the
EU announced the Integrated Strategic Energy
Technology Plan (ISET-Plan) to drive the transition to a low-carbon energy system. Similarly,
after announcing its nuclear phase-out plan,
Germany has prioritised renewable energy and
energy efficiency improvement technologies, and
generally adjusted its policies for energy technology development and deployment.
Competition between countries can also be
reflected in many specific fields. For example,
major car manufacturing countries are accelerating the development of new energy vehicles.
The USA adopted the EV Everywhere Grand
Challenge Blueprint and the Intelligent Transportation System Strategic Plan 2015–19 to
promote the development of new energy vehicles
and an intelligent transport system. The EU
introduced the Strategic Innovation Plan 2020
and the Intelligent Transport System Development Plan to promote a low-carbon and intelligent transport system. Japan’s Next-Generation
Vehicle Strategy 2010 and Automobile Industry
Strategy 2014 prioritise the development of new
energy and fuel-efficient vehicles. In China, the
Action Plan for Innovation in the Energy Technology Revolution (2016–30) prioritises electric
vehicle energy storage and wireless charging
technologies in the energy technology revolution.
308
S. Zifeng and N. Dickens