Understanding the evolution of photovoltaic value chain from a global perspective: Based on the patent analysis

Abstract

Solar photovoltaic (PV) is one of the optimal alternatives to solve the problem of traditional fuel shortage due to its clean and safe characteristics. However, the boundaries of PV national innovation systems are blurring, and the PV value chain is gradually modularized in the context of innovation and product globalization. The paper explores the spatiotemporal evolution of the PV value chain based on priority patent applications from a global perspective. Our findings highlight the global innovation activities in developing PV technology are uneven in the temporal dimension, and the center of PV technology innovation has experienced a rapid spatial shift in the context of globalization. Developing the PV technological components was initially concentrated in a few countries or regions and then showed a tendency for spatial dispersion. However, the development of PV technology concentrated again after the global financial crisis. Moreover, there are distinct comparative technology advantages and disadvantages of the PV technological components or trajectories across crucial countries or regions. Our findings contribute to a theoretical description of the spatiotemporal evolution of developing PV technology at a global level and help policy-makers or company managers better understand the evolution of the PV industrial value chain from the perspective of the global innovation system.