Multi-Source Energy Networks and the ICT Revolution

Abstract

Oil and gas provided the cheap energy source for the era of mass production and consumption and the first half of the information and communication technology (ICT) revolution. However, increasing scarcity and the addition of carbon pollution taxes are making this source of energy more costly, while economies of scale, the Internet and the use of microprocessors are making multi-source renewable energy networks an attractive alternative. How might the emergence of low-carbon energy generation technologies, such as solar photovoltaic fit into the current techno-economic paradigm? This article explores some of the possibilities and anticipates how the ICT revolution might unfold over the next decades.

Acknowledgements

The author would like to thank Uwe Cantner and Helge Godø, as well as participants at the workshop “Which regions benefit from emerging new industries? Evidence from photovoltaic and other high-tech industries”, held in Halle (Saale), Germany, 30 September–1 October, 2010.