Business & technology strategies to promote the development and commercialization of alternative energy technologies like fuel cells

Abstract

Globalization has led to the development of emerging markets and economies. With economic expansion around the globe, there is a greater energy demand to sustain this growth. Increasing energy demand has resulted in increase in energy prices and increase in emission levels. While conventional energy technologies have advantage in terms of established infrastructure and lower cost, they are inefficient and rely heavily on fossil fuels. Conventional energy technologies alone cannot sustain and cater to the evolving energy market's needs of higher efficiency, lower emissions and resources conservation. Renewable energy solutions and alternative energy technologies like distributed generation need to be developed to meet this energy demand, conserve the definite resources and reduce emissions. But at the moment, alternative energy technologies due to lack of infrastructure, development cost and regulations are limited in their applications. Therefore in the near term, we recommend that they strategically position themselves in the market with niche and right fit opportunities. We also recommend that they need to utilize the development dollars effectively in integrating technology development with their product development activities and develop durable cost effective products. They also need to develop key partnerships and integrate value across their development and fulfillment chains. Strategic positioning, value chain integration and key execution in development with mature processes will aid alternative energy technologies to overcome the existing market barriers and move towards rapid commercialization.