Cleantech : Prospects and Challenges

The issue of climate change, greenhouse gas emissions, global warming, and their effect on nature and the ecosystem has raised serious concerns. The desire to sustain economic growth and development while keeping a check on the environmental footprints is one of the leading challenges the contemporary world is currently facing. To ensure sustained growth, there is a need for technologies and solutions that has the potential to meet industrial needs without compromising the environment. Cleantech offers a possibility to address these needs in a sustainable and environmentally friendly manner. Cleantech, being an umbrella term, is often confused and misunderstood, in terms of its definition and scope. This study seeks to explore what cleantech actually is, how this sector came into prominence, what are the driving factors behind its surge, and what kind of socio-economic, technical, and regulatory prerequisites are necessary for the advancement of this sector.©2021 the Authors. Published by Associação Journal of Innovation Management. This manuscript version is made available under the Creative Commons Attribution http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0fi=vertaisarvioimaton|en=nonPeerReviewed

Transforming Energy Marketing Practices for Enhanced Solar PV Adoption

The adoption and use of solar PV systems is a complex and multifarious process influenced by personal, social, economic, technical and regulatory factors. Solar PV companies involved in the sales and interaction with the customers can play an important role in facilitating adoption. Companies’ ability to effectively market the product, disseminate information, frame value offerings and address consumers concerns can play an important role in this regard. The small size of the domestic market, an amplified competition and limited resources highlight the need to alter the way companies have been carrying out their operations. The qualitative study explores how solar PV companies can transform their marketing operations by integrating through the use of advanced digital technologies to facilitate the process.© 2022. Published by AHFE Open Access. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).fi=vertaisarvioitu|en=peerReviewed

The role of venture capital in the commercialization of cleantech companies

Venture Capital (VC) plays an important role in the success of their portfolio companies. Small- and medium-sized companies often struggle with the resources required to succeed in the market. vc not only helps companies with the required financing but also provides the knowledge, understanding and expertise required to excel in the market. The study explores vc non-financial value-added contributions in the commercialization of clean technologies. Cleantech is a term associated with the companies involved with technologies, products, processes or services that seek to lower the negative environmental impact by improving efficiencies, reducing waste, encouraging the use of sustainable sources and environmental protection. However, the success of companies operating in this sector, at times, becomes challenging since these technologies are often disruptive in nature, contest business-as-usual practices by inducing efficiencies in the current processes or radically transforming the existing infrastructures. This qualitative case study is based on five companies operating in the Finnish clean technology sector. Data is collected in the form of semi-structured interviews whereas within the case and cross-case analysis approach is adopted to gain a comprehensive understanding of the studied phenomena. This study delineated vc’s contribution to technology development, corporate governance, mentoring & industry expertise, recruitment, collaboration & internationalization, acquiring additional financing and certification effect. The findings of this research provide important insights for the industry specialists, managers as well as the scientists involved in this field of research.fi=vertaisarvioitu|en=peerReviewed

Uusiutuvien energiateknologioiden kaupallistaminen : Tutkimus sosioekonomisista, teknisistä ja sääntelytekijöistä Suomessa ja Pakistanissa

Commercialization plays an important role in technologies’ success and failure. The successful transformation of an idea into a product or service is a complex and multifarious process. Commercialization deals with bringing science and technology competencies from the laboratory to market acceptance and use. It ensures that technologies not only meet performance and reliability requirements, but also addresses market needs. Commercialization of renewable energy technologies (RETs) becomes important as there are a number of additional barriers that RETs must surpass to become widely adopted. Success often depends on a number of actors operating at various levels, including government, local bodies, investors, entrepreneurs, society and other stakeholders involved in the process. The literature is replete with evidence indicating the enormous potential of energy generation from renewables. However, their actual contribution to the world’s primary energy supplies remains limited. There is widespread consensus that the low penetration of some renewable energy technologies is no longer because of their technical potential but their commercialization. The objective of this study is to explore how renewable energy technologies can be effectively commercialized. This doctoral dissertation examines cases from Finland and Pakistan to study factors influencing commercialization and causing hindrances to widespread diffusion. This study particularly explores the effect of socio-economic landscape, effect of energy policies, university–industry collaboration, the role of venture capital and factors influencing adoption and establishment of RETs’ market. By employing a mixed methods approach, the findings of this dissertation highlight the role of supportive energy policies, the need to develop a coherent approach, strengthening collaboration between stakeholders, and increase the level of environmental awareness. Based on the findings, this dissertation presents frameworks and mechanisms necessary to address some of these barriers to foster the process of commercialization.Kaupallistamisella on tärkeä rooli uuden tekniikan liiketoiminnan käynnistymisessä. Idean onnistunut kehittäminen tuotteeksi tai palveluksi voi olla vaativa ja monitahoinen prosessi. Kaupallistaminen liittyy tiede- ja teknologiaosaamisen tuomiseen laboratoriosta aina markkinoille hyväksymiseen ja käyttöön saakka. Se varmistaa, että tekniikat eivät vain täytä suorituskyky- ja luotettavuusvaatimuksia, vaan myös vastaavat markkinoiden tarpeisiin. Uusiutuvien energialähteiden tekniikoiden (RET) kaupallistaminen tulee tärkeäksi, koska RET:ien on ylitettävä lukuisia esteitä, jotta niitä voitaisiin soveltaa laajasti. Menestys riippuu usein useista eri tasojen toimijoista, mukaan lukien valtiovalta, paikalliset toimijat, sijoittajat, yrittäjät, yhteiskunta ja muut prosessissa mukana olevat sidosryhmät. Kirjallisuus on täynnä todisteita, jotka osoittavat uusiutuvien energialähteiden energiantuotannon valtavan potentiaalin. Niiden tosiasiallinen vaikutus maailman primaarienergian hankintoihin on kuitenkin edelleen rajallinen. On laajaa yksimielisyyttä siitä, että joidenkin uusiutuvien energialähteiden tekniikoiden alhainen levinneisyys ei johdu enää niiden teknisistä mahdollisuuksista, vaan niiden kaupallisuudesta. Tämän työn tavoitteena on tutkia, miten uusiutuvan energian tekniikoita voidaan tehokkaasti kaupallistaa. Tässä väitöskirjassa tutkitaan Suomen ja Pakistanin tapaustutkimusten avulla tekijöitä, jotka vaikuttavat kaupallistamiseen ja ovat esteitä laajaan leviämiseen. Tässä työssä tutkitaan erityisesti sosioekonomisten asioiden, energiapolitiikan, yliopistojen ja teollisuuden yhteistyön ja riskipääoman merkitystä RET-markkinoiden perustamiseen. Sovellettaessa kvalitatiivisen ja kvantitatiivisen menettelemän yhdistelmää, tämän tutkielman tulokset korostavat tukevan energiapolitiikan merkitystä, johdonmukaisen lähestymistavan kehittämisen tarvetta, sidosryhmien välisen yhteistyön vahvistamista ja ympäristötietoisuuden lisäämistä. Tulosten perusteella tämä väitöskirja tarjoaa kehykset ja mekanismit, joita tarvitaan esteiden poistamiseen kaupallistamisprosessin tieltä.fi=vertaisarvioitu|en=peerReviewed

Business models for enhanced solar photovoltaic (PV) adoption : Transforming customer interaction and engagement practices

Solar energy can play an important role in meeting global energy needs in a sustainable and environmentally friendly manner. However, despite solar energy’s accelerated growth in recent years, its level of diffusion is highly uneven when looked at on a global scale. The solar photovoltaic (PV) companies involved in the sales of PV systems are central to fostering diffusion. A company’s ability to devise and deliver value offerings that match customers’ needs is vital in encouraging the adoption of solar PV technology. The extent to which a company can address market needs and deliver value often depends on the business model it has adopted. The extant research has explored business models based on ownership structures, financing options, the effect of regulatory regimes and policies, industry practices, alliances, and business models for distributed generation and large-scale utility companies. However, the research to date, has mostly neglected the business models of solar companies involved in the sales and installation of solar PV. This qualitative study based on twenty semi-structured interviews contributes to the existing knowledge by exploring how sales and installation companies can enhance solar photovoltaic adoption by transforming customer interactions and engagement practices, which is a key element of a company’s business model. Companies’ ability to communicate value offerings and address consumer concerns is important in enhancing diffusion. The study highlights that transforming customer interaction and engagement practices can help companies broaden customer reach, improve the dissemination of information, reduce transaction costs and efficiently utilise market insights and trends.© 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of International Solar Energy Society. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).fi=vertaisarvioitu|en=peerReviewed

Towards the establishment of renewable energy technologies' market : An assessment of public acceptance and use in Pakistan

Adoption of renewable energy technologies is a complex and intricate process affected by a multitude of factors. The objective of this study is to examine the factors influencing consumers' intention to use renewable energy technologies for household usage in Pakistan. In order to understand the adoption behaviour, we have extended the actual framework of the theory of planned behaviour by integrating three additional factors, i.e., environmental concern, cost, and awareness. The findings of this research are based on primary data collected from 244 households in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi through survey questionnaires. The proposed hypotheses were then tested and analysed using structural equation modelling. The results reveal that factors such as subjective norm, perceived behavioural control, and attitude positively influence consumers' intention to use renewable energy technologies in Pakistan, whereas cost has the opposite effect. Interestingly, awareness and environmental concern were found to be insignificant. The results of this study highlight the need to increase environmental awareness, frame innovative financing mechanisms, and address the benefits that renewable energy technology offers, all through an integrative and coherent effort.fi=vertaisarvioitu|en=peerReviewed

A Framework for Assessing the Social and Economic Impact of Sustainable Investments

Investments towards sustainable development are vital for the future and they must be carefully planned to deliver immediate and long-term benefits. Hence, the ability to communicate the forms of impact of sustainable investments to local societies, people, investors and other stakeholders can provide a competitive advantage. However, the assessments are often under pressure to demonstrate short-term effects rather than emphasise the long-term impact. In addition, indirect and intangible forms of impacts should not be measured solely in economic terms. This paper proposes an assessment framework to support the integrated economic and social impact assessment of sustainable investments aimed at improving physical and socio-economic wellbeing. The framework is demonstrated in two case studies: new construction and renovation investments in affordable housing and social impact investment in sustainable development. The investments in the case studies are evaluated, selected and prioritized not only in terms of money but also with regard to sustainability, social acceptability and their overall impact on society, as a whole. The results indicate that a systematic integrated assessment of monetary and non-monetary factors can be successfully combined with the sustainable development decisions.fi=vertaisarvioitu|en=peerReviewed

Talent Retention and the Development of Digital Skills : A study of the ecosystem-based Digitalisation Academy located in Vaasa, Finland

In 2018, Vaasa-based energy cluster companies and higher education institutions jointly established the Digitalisation Academy. The aim of the Digitalisation Academy, which was created as a joint effort, has been to respond to the talent shortage in the region’s business sector by strengthening the digital skills of Finnish and foreign students studying in Vaasa and supporting their employment in the region’s companies. This publication is the final report of a research and development project to develop the Digitalisation Academy, funded by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment and carried out by the University of Vaasa’s Innolab. The international multidisciplinary group of researchers studied the experiences of the students and the representatives of companies and higher education institutions involved in the project. Based on these observations, the report includes proposals on how the Digitalisation Academy can be developed in the future. The report also describes the previous talent shortage and the ways to commit experts, as well as research on ecosystem cooperation and cooperation between companies and higher education institutions. In view of these, the researchers have issued recommendations on actions to the parties. The report can also be used as a handbook for setting up similar units in other Finnish clusters and as a basis for a discussion on how to support the commitment of highly educated experts to Finland

PELAKSANAAN PENYIDIKAN TINDAK PIDANA CUKAI ROKOK OLEH SATUAN RESERSE KRIMINAL POLRES SOLOK

Tindak pidana merupakan gejala sosial yang akan dihadapi masyarakat bahkan negara. Salah satunya adalah tindak pidana cukai yaitu penyelewengan cukai. Mengenai tindak pidana Cukai ini telah diatur dalam Undang-Undang Nomor 39 Tahun 2007 tentang Cukai. Pada Pasal 1 Undang-Undang Nomor 39 tahun 2007 pengertian cukai adalah “pungutan Negara yang dikenakan terhadap barang-barang tertentu yang mempunyai sifat atau karakteristik yang ditetapkan dalam undang-undang ini”.Dalam hal ini cukai merupakan suatu pendapatan negara yang cukup besar dalam pembangunan nasional yang mana dalam pelanggarannya sangat merugikan negara. Untuk itu perlu adanya penanggulangan terhadap tindak pidana cukai yang dilakukan oleh penegak hukum yaitu dari pihak kepolisian sehingga terciptanya pembangunan nasional yang lancar. Permasalahan yang dibahas dalam Skripsi ini adalah (a) pelaksanaan penyidikan tindak pidana cukairokok, (b) kendala – kendala yang dihadapi oleh penyidik dalam pelaksanaan penyidikan tindak pidana cukai rokok dan (c) upaya yang dilakukan oleh penyidik dalam mengatasi kendala – kendala dalam pelaksanaan penyidikan tindak pidana cukai rokok oleh Satreskrim Polres Solok. Penelitian ini merupakan penelitian yang bersifat deskriptif, yaitu suatu penelitian yang menggambarkan atau menjelaskan dan memaparkan hasil dari penelitian secara deskriptif. Metode pendekatan yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah metode pendekatan secara yudiris sosiologis. Sumber data adalah data primer dan data sekunder yang diperoleh dilapangan.Upaya – upaya yang dilakukan penyidik dalam mengatasi kendala – kendala yang dihadapi dalam penyidikan tindak pidana cukai rokok oleh Satreskrim Polres Solok, (a) pelatihan khusus bagi penyidik dalam menghadapi kasus tindak pidana cukai rokok. (b) memberikan penghargaan dan memberikan perlindungan hukum terhadap saksi yang terlibat dalam penyidikan tindak pidana cukai rokok. Kata kunci: Penyelewengan Cukai Roko

Business Model Innovation in Energy Businesses : Driving Factors, Trends and Implications for the Future

The existing energy system is heavily centralized, where production and distribution systems are largely controlled by big utility companies. The issue of global warming, the need to reduce emissions, sustainable use of conventional hydrocarbons, and improvements in renewable energy technologies – both in terms of cost and performance – has highlighted the need to transform the energy market. The trend is further exacerbated by the advancement in technology. The transformation is said to have implications for the stakeholders involved in the process, including customers, utility companies, and regulatory bodies. The objective of this study is to explore the effect this transformation would have on the local energy system and the changes needed to be made to ensure the transition provides desired outcomes. Based on the findings, the study proposes changes companies need to make in their business models to adapt to the changing needs of the market as well as of customers.©2021 Springer. This is a post-peer-review, pre-copyedit version of an article published in Advances in Human Factors, Business Management and Leadership: Proceedings of the AHFE 2021 Virtual Conferences on Human Factors, Business Management and Society, and Human Factors in Management and Leadership, July 25-29. The final authenticated version is available online at: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-80876-1_6.fi=vertaisarvioitu|en=peerReviewed