New General Purpose Technologies in Energy Systems Transformation
In the book Global Energy Transformation, author Mats Larsson refers to the work of Professor Ruttan and argues that large scale government programs for energy systems transformation will become necessary to drive the development of new energy technologies. Energy efficient technologies and infrastructures will become necessary to drive economic growth in a future situation after Peak Oil. The task of developing and implementing these technologies on a large scale will be too complex and demanding in terms of resources, for the market to drive this on its own.
Larsson refers to earlier large scale development programs and projects, to support his argument. One is the transformation of US industry to war production during the Second World War, the second is The Marshall Plan and the third is The Apollo Program. A similar government funded program will become necessary to transform global energy systems on a large scale.
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