Abstract
Historically, technology transfer from the global North to China played a large role in renewable energy pathways in China, particularly for wind energy, partly also for solar energy. Yet, the rise of China and other emerging economies means a shift away from a reliance on technology transfer and production capabilities to strengthening indigenous innovation capabilities. Drawing on evidence from the hydropower, solar and wind energy industry in China, the paper introduces the concept of ‘geographies of technology transfer and cooperation’ and challenges the North-South technology transfer and cooperation paradigm for low carbon innovation and climate change mitigation. The empirical evidence shows that for low carbon innovation, the conception that China is lacking behind in innovation capabilities is partly outdated. Instead, there is an increase in indigenous innovation capabilities, resulting in South-South technology transfer and cooperation as well as elements of ‘reverse’ South-North technology cooperation.
Highlights
Technology transfer from the global North to China has played a large role in renewable energy pathways in China, for wind energy, partly for solar (Urban et al, 2015a; Lewis, 2013; Watson et al, 2014)
This section discusses the characteristics of technology transfer and cooperation for the Chinese hydropower, solar energy and wind energy sectors, taking into account the following factors: flow of capital, drivers of market access, technology leadership, origins of innovation and types of technology transfer and cooperation today
With regards to climate-relevant technology and low carbon innovation this was correct in the past, as technology transfer from the global North to China played an important role for many decades
Summary
Technology transfer from the global North to China has played a large role in renewable energy pathways in China, for wind energy, partly for solar (Urban et al, 2015a; Lewis, 2013; Watson et al, 2014). Technology transfer of hardware occurred from OECD countries to China, as well as knowledge transfer of how to maintain and operate these technologies This reliance on foreign technology imports has decreased in recent years as China has become a rising power at political, economic and technological levels. Less developed countries usually have lower capacities to create indigenous innovation, including in the energy sector (Ockwell et al, 2014; Ockwell and Byrne, 2015) This means they have a strategic disadvantage, as energy innovation is crucial for alleviating energy poverty, increasing energy security and for building an energy sector that reduces greenhouse gas emissions and is resilient to climatic shocks at the same time. This means they have a strategic disadvantage, as energy innovation is crucial for alleviating energy poverty, increasing energy security and for building an energy sector that reduces greenhouse gas emissions and is resilient to climatic shocks at the same time. Brewer (2007) calls for increasing technology innovation and its diffusion through international technology transfer, under the ‘technology transfer paradigm’
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