Solar Energy

This article builds on the literature on sociotechnical imaginaries and the sociology of expectations to engage in the discussion of how expectation alignment facilitates the development of novel technologies. While existing scholarship has elaborated on how expectations alignment is important to support technological development, it has not fully explored how the challenges of expectation alignment are translated into practices of expectation management and collective governance over the innovation process. Based on a range of archival sources, the article examines three historical episodes of photovoltaics development in locations that had spearheaded its development: the United States, Japan and Germany. Based on these historical episodes, the article suggests three core issues for the management of expectations in technological development: the creation, adaptation and materialization of shared imaginaries.

Auf Basis der Rekonstruktion neo-pragmatistischer, bewegungstheoretischer und erwartungssoziologischer Argumente versuchen wir zu zeigen, dass Prozesse sozialer Sinnstiftung im zukunftsgerichteten Handeln helfen, nicht-institutionalisierte Kooperation zu erklärenDer Artikel entwickelt einen soziologischen Ansatz zum Verständnis der Rolle von Zukunftserwartungen im kollektiven Handeln. Er argumentiert, dass ein erwartungsbasierter pragmatistischer Ansatz Vorteile gegenüber etablierten sozialwissenschaftlichen Theorien in der Erklärung kollektiven Handelns in Episoden sozialen Wandels hat. Die Nützlichkeit der vorgestellten theoretischen Argumente illustriert eine Fallstudie zu technologischen Innovationen im amerikanischen Energiesektor.

The paper compares technology policies for coal liquifaction and solar energy in the 1970s and 1980s. It argues that there’s a dilemma between commercializing specific technologies and supporting keeping technological options open.

The book reconstructs the history of policies to support solar photovoltaics across countries.