DOI
10.1016/j.enpol.2018.10.046

Summary
This study is concerned with the fossil fuel industry in Alberta, Canada and how its successes may play a positive role in the development of low-carbon technology, specifically in geothermal energy. The similarities between both sectors in areas of actor skills, policy institutions, political networks, sub surface information, and physical infrastructure may play a role in the development of the geothermal industry. Leitch et al. have stated that many commentators have drawn attention to the complimentary factors between the two sectors but have yet to be researched in terms of the systematic contributions fossil fuels can present for geothermal development. The authors analyse the case through the Technological Innovation Systems (TIS) approach as described by Bergek et al.

The analysis of the opportunities and overall aim of the study is to deliver on two contributions: (1) Enhance the conceptual framework for complimentary exchanges between an emerging technology and the context in which it is embedded and (2) identify various overlaps and connections between fossil fuel and geothermal energy.

Leitch et al describe the framework to analyse socio-technological complementarities in section 2 and the case study and methodological approach in section 3. Section 4 details the identified overlaps as follows:

Actor overlap in similar skills
Technological overlap in sub-surface data
Technological overlap in sub-surface wells
Technological overlap in production and consumption of heat
System functions strengthened by overlaps
Institutional overlap in regulatory frameworks
Institutional overlap in risk reduction policies
Network overlap in political circles

Relevance for Complex Systems Knowledge
This study is concerned with the research of energy systems in the Canadian context.

The TIS approach applied to this study is from Bergek et al. whose contributions to TIS related studies is common. TIS is described here as ‘ to be comprised of structural elements, often categorised into actors, networks, institutions, and technologies’. The paper makes a valuable contribution to the study of complimentary exchanges between emerging technologies and the systems they are found in. As an independent concept, complimentary exchanges between technologies within a particular system is a strong complex systems topic. It may be useful for the teaching of complex systems, if the topic were to implemented into a curriculum and realigned with whatever learning objective was required – perhaps as a group case study.

Point of Strength
The concept of identifying complementary strengths in an otherwise environmentally destructive industry (fossil fuels), primarily its part to play in the development of a less environmentally taxing technology, could be seen as a valuable research idea for other studies or as a learning opportunity.

The paper contributes to the use of Bergek et al.’s TIS literatures.

The study found that the fossil fuel industry in Alberta, Canada does in fact positively contribute to the development of the emerging geothermal technology