Renewable energy technology diffusion: Prospects of the german and swiss industry in the world markets

This paper summarizes some major recent empirical studies on export market penetration and policy issues regarding renewable energy technologies (RETS ) undertaken in Germany and Switzerland, that are yet unpublished in the English literature. Particularly, it reflects on Germany's and Switzerland's RET exports and imports over the period 1990-2001, and provides some explanations of the historical development - based on the specific national boundary conditions. Examples of the economies of scale and scope and learning curve effects during the 1990s are given and next decades' market volume for renewable energies estimated based on technical and economic potential estimates. The identification of the technical and economic potentials is shown to depend at least partly on the attention paid by the energy sector and the scientific community to particular RETs. Moreover, we point out certain similarities between resource potential data on renewable and non-renewable energy sources. Existing remommendations on export policies for RETs in the two countries are reported, including the tackling of market barriers and export risks. In the longer term, the related spill-over effects from renewable energy technology exports will be able to substantially contribute to a more sustainable development worldwide.