DOI
10.1016/j.rser.2014.11.075

Summary
This study is concerned with Iran’s hydrogen and fuel cell innovation system. Hydrogen and fuel cell technology play an integral role in addressing the growing demand for energy. This paper applies a Technological Innovation Systems (TIS) approach to assessing the structural and functional factors which affect the development of the technology. Nasiri et al begins the article by detailing background information on general renewable energy literature leading to an explanation of hydrogen energy and fuel cell technology. The authors utilise Suurs & Hekkert functions for their TIS analysis. These functions are detailed in table 1 and differ slightly from the most common TIS function resource - Bergek et al. The status of the Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology (HFCT) is analysed under the component structures government structure, supply side, demand side, knowledge structure and the intermediary structure. The authors describe Iran’s HFCT standing under these headings. The TIS functions are broken down into individual tables (3-9). These tables contain indicators that are coded and made reference to using a scoring system in figure 10.

The functions of the HFCTIS in Iran is broken down into five phases:

Basic and applied research and development
Demonstration
Pre-commercial
Supported commercial
Commercial

The structural causes identified include:

Prolonged demonstration phase
Weak network of actors
Low power of active actors

The functional causes identified include:

Lack of continuous planning mechanisms
Weak mobilisations of resources
Lobbying with little success

Relevance for Complex Systems Knowledge
Iran is falling behind in their development of this renewable technology which is partly a result of poor structural function of the HFCT. The presentation of system functions and indicators in their individual tables provides a clearer understanding of the system and each functions value and contribution to the innovation system. As a whole, the study does not offer any standout useful resources relevant to complex systems knowledge. Some aspects of the study would be useful to replicate in a similar TIS analysis.




 

Point of Strength
The stated analysis components government structure, supply side, demand side, knowledge structure and the intermediary structure could be used for a similar TIS study or as example headings in a teaching environment. The article is short, making it a potential valuable assignment resource for teaching TIS. The presentation of function indicators under individual function tables is unique and made for easy access if the reader was looking for a very particular set of data without having to trawl through bulk text. This could potentially be a more efficient and more easily accessible way to conduct TIS reports – making them more accessible to non-professionals.