Technological and institutional ‘ lock-in ’ as a barrier to sustainable innovation

Abstract

This paper examines the role of technological and institutional lock-in as a barrier to more sustainable innovation, and the implications of this for determining appropriate policy responses. It begins by reviewing the idea of lock-in, and recent work applying this concept to carbon-based energy systems. It then summarises work by the author and colleagues outlining policy instruments to promote more sustainable innovation. Finally, it introduces a new project that will analyse how to determine an appropriate mix of such instruments to overcome the current carbon lock-in.