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Rapidly diffusing innovation: Whether the history of the Internet points the way for hydrogen energy

Bellaby, Paul; Flynn, Rob; Ricci, Miriam

Authors

Paul Bellaby

Rob Flynn



Abstract

This paper identifies conditions for the rapid diffusion of what may be part of the solution for global sustainable energy - hydrogen - by drawing a comparison with the contemporary history of the Internet. The Cold War drove the take-off of the Internet and state regulation ensured that the market on which its rapid diffusion came to depend was not controlled by corporations. To take-off and start to diffuse, hydrogen energy could similarly have to be considered a "public good". However, the comparison with the Internet reveals differences too. The Internet diffused rapidly among the public at low cost to individual users, starting in the mid 1980s and kicking off in the 1990s. To achieve affordable hydrogen transport in the long term, many drivers might have to forgo cars for public transport. Moreover, global sustainable energy demands cooperation between nations rather than the conflict that spurred the Internet. © 2012 Copyright ICCR Foundation.

Journal Article Type Article
Publication Date Sep 1, 2012
Journal Innovation
Print ISSN 1351-1610
Electronic ISSN 1469-8412
Publisher Taylor & Francis (Routledge)
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 25
Issue 3
Pages 322-336
DOI https://doi.org/10.1080/13511610.2012.685381
Keywords hydrogen, hystory of internet, rapidly diffusing innovation
Public URL https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/947024
Publisher URL http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13511610.2012.685381