Fusion › Disciplines › Science › 2012–13
2012–13 Scientific Focus
Advanced Energy Technologies & Systems
The one cycle outside biomedicine, and the clearest demonstration that the method applies beyond the life sciences.
Commercializing advanced energy technology presents evolving challenges to both the scientist and the entrepreneur. In biomedical science the path to market, however complex, is reasonably well defined. Energy commercialization involves a fluid market structure.
Customer definition
The customer and the value chain for electrical energy technologies vary by application, by region, and by business model, across consumers, utilities, transmission operators, and independent system operators. Some technologies must therefore proceed with multiple parallel customer models.
Regulatory landscape
Some regulation and certification regimes exist and others are emerging, but many key aspects of the path to market remain subject to the strategic needs, and the discretion, of established players.
Market forces
Many advanced energy technologies are still early in development and manufacturing, and require significant advances in both before they are cost-competitive with legacy systems. The total economic model for a given technology may depend on subsidies, on regulatory requirements such as state renewable portfolio standards, and on market adjustment schemes. As those forces wax and wane, commercialization demands contingent and iterative strategy.
Integration and systems
As in every domain Fusion has worked, few innovations result in a fully integrated product. Commercializing energy technology requires a strong focus on the value chain, on component product development, and on interdisciplinary approaches to designing both a complete product and a complete business model.