Demonstrationsprojektets roll i framväxten av ny teknik: Fallstudier av två vindkraftprojekt

Sammanfattning: The transition to a sustainable energy system based on renewable energy sources requires development and deployment of new energy technologies. Technical change is complex, uncertain and path-dependent and the process is dependent on both technical and social factors. Different policy instruments can accelerate the rate of technical change. Demonstration projects are one instrument, implemented to test and exhibit new technical solutions and procedures before adoption. A successful project creates new knowledge, extends the network of actors in the technological area and leads to market creation.The objective of this study is to improve the understanding of the role of demonstration projects in technology development. The discussion is focused on how projects should be designed and evaluated in order to become a driver for the innovation process.The function of demonstration projects is investigated through case studies of two Swedish wind energy demonstration projects. Both of them can be labelled as failed in some aspects. The rate of development and diffusion of wind turbines in Sweden has been slow in spite of a substantial R&D programme and high technical competence. The industry consists of very few Swedish firms in contrast to the situation in for example Denmark and Germany. One of the studied projects was carried through in the late 1980s. It aimed at getting experience from the third biggest wind turbine in Sweden at the time. The turbine was supplied by a Scottish firm and placed in Gothenburg. It was dismounted some years later after a breakdown. The other project was started ten years later. It demonstrated a small turbine for local energy production at farms. Two of three turbines in the project were taken out of operation due to technical, economical and institutional reasons. The supplier went bankrupt.To describe the two demonstration projects and investigate their significance, participants have been interviewed and project documents have been studied. The projects are described in terms of technical learning, the composition of participating actors and the project organisation. Their effect on the actor network, the public attitude and institutions as regulations and cultural values isinvestigated. Furthermore, barriers and conflicts appearing during the projects are identified.The results of the study illustrate how the rate of success of demonstration projects is determined by the integration of technical and social factors. The people and organisations participating are very important, so is the institutional framework. Six lessons are learnt from the case studies. (1) The composition of participating actors affects the success of a project. For example, a foreign wind turbine supplier does not favour the local industry or the utilisation of Swedish wind energy competence. (2) Differing experiences and expectations between participants can result in conflicts. To discuss this during the project can be just as important as addressing occurring technical problems. (3) A co-ordinating actor can make the implementation of demonstration projects easier. On the other hand, the formation of a network between actors may be hindered if all communication is handled by the co-ordinating partner. (4) The contribution of a project to the learning process increases if institutional barriers can be identified or affected during the project. In the case of wind turbines in Sweden the diffusion has been hindered by the absence of governmental support for small turbines, problems in securing building permits and changed tax regulations. (5) Knowledge created in a project must be disseminated to affect the process of technical change. Hence it is important to evaluate and publish the project results. (6) Finally, the most important lesson is that to function as an effective policy instrument, a demonstration project should be seen as one step in a process of technical change and not as an isolated technical test. This approach requires a long-term perspective. In this point of view a ”failed” project can have positive effects on the innovation process. Some examples of positive effects of the two studied projects are creation of new knowledge, integration of new actors into the wind energy network, diffusion of wind turbines to new parts of Sweden and a small firm entering the market.