Standardization as an Innovation Strategy: Bringing down the Costs of Offshore Wind

Abstract

This thesis links the theoretical framework of technological innovation systems to standardization and standards arguing that there are analytical benefits in integrating these theoretical perceptions within the literature of innovation. The paper seeks to address how technological change evolves, are obtained and maintained by applying this conceptual framework to the European offshore wind industry. I ask what role standardization and standards have in the innovation processes of offshore wind power in Europe, and investigate the relationship through examples from the industry, and viewpoints from Norwegian actors. Empirical studies need to be analyzed from different theoretical perspectives in order to be fully understood and provide effective solutions, further supporting the theoretical combination. Concerns have been expressed about the competitiveness of European offshore wind setting the political goals for expanding this renewable resource under pressure. As we near 2020 offshore wind subsidies will be phased out, and offshore wind energy has to become less cost intensive in order to become competitive with other energy resources. We therefore need to investigate different solutions for bringing down the costs of offshore wind in order to make it a viable contributor to the future energy market. Higher level of standardization in the industry enable transfer of knowledge, and standards have functionalities such as ensuring quality and reliability, providing information, creating compatibility and contributing to variety reduction further influencing the systemic performance of the offshore wind innovation system. By providing a comprehensive analysis of the relationship between standardization and systemic functions in the offshore wind industry through Norwegian actors and European examples this paper concludes, though rather humbly, that standardization is an important factor in the energy transition strategy. This is further valid on theoretical, analytical and empirical terms in innovation studies in general, and in the energy transition and diffusion of offshore wind more specifically.