Drivers and Barriers to Wind Energy Technology Transitions in India, Brazil and South Africa

Abstract

This chapter examines the drivers and barriers to innovation in the wind energy sectors in Brazil, India and South Africa. We analyse actors and institutions that have played a role in the development and diffusion of wind energy technologies in these countries from a technological innovation systems (TIS) perspective. We introduce innovation capabilities, the enabling environment and policy-independent strategies as the main drivers for the development of the TIS. This analysis will contribute to improving our understanding of drivers of and barriers to innovation relevant to successful transitions towards cleaner technologies and less carbon-intensive economies. We found that some countries are more successful in developing wind energy technologies because of three factors: stronger technological capability, prime movers, and big market size, and this relates to the enabling environment and policy incentives. We found that in India and Brazil, entrepreneurial activities independent of public policy were critical for the development of the local wind energy industry. In South Africa, policy-independent entrepreneurial activity was scarce and operated in an unfavourable environment which hampered the development of a local wind energy industry.