Effects of policies on patenting in wind-power technologies. (September 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Schleich, Joachim; Walz, Rainer; Ragwitz, Mario
• Is Part Of: Energy policy. Volume 108(2017)
• Page Start: 684
• Page End: 695
• Publication Date: 2017-09
• Subjects: Innovation -- Supply-side regulation -- Demand-side regulation -- Wind power -- Patent analysis -- Count data econometrics; Energy policy -- Periodicals; Politique énergétique -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 333.79
• DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2017.06.043
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0301-4215

Abstract

Abstract: This paper explores the effects of policies and other factors driving innovation in wind power technologies in twelve OECD countries over more than two decades. Patent counts are used as an indicator for innovation. The factors considered are generally derived from the systems of innovation literature. Count data econometric model were used for the estimations. The suggest that patenting in wind power technology is positively related to public R&D in wind power (reflecting supply-side policy), the stock of wind capacity (reflecting learning effects), the number of patents per capita (reflecting a country's innovative capacity), and the share of Green party voters (reflecting the legitimacy of the technology). In particular, the presence of production or capacity targets for wind power or renewable energy sources and a stable policy environment (reflecting policy process) appear to be favourable for patenting wind power technologies. These results are robust to various model specifications, distributional assumptions, and alternative classifications of wind power technologies in the patent search. Highlights: Patenting in wind power is positively related to supply- and demand-side policies. Patenting is positively related to innovative capacity and technology legitimacy. Patenting is positively related to target setting and a stable regulatory framework.