Power Loss Estimation of PV Modules Through IV-characteristics and Image Analysis

In this thesis a methodology utilizing IV-characteristics and image analysis to model power losses due to snow cover is presented. The objective of this dissertation is to investigate the performance of PV modules under different snow cover conditions by simulating and analyzing IV-curves. Additionally, investigating if image analysis could be useful in estimating snow cover, and could improve the modelled IV-curve power loss estimations. An IV-characteristics model in MATLAB Simulink was used to model situations with uniform and partial snow cover for different irradiance and snow depth conditions. The image analysis method was used to estimate PV module snow cover and used in combination with the IV-curve model to improve power loss estimations. It was concluded that the IV-curve model proved capable of estimating power losses due to uniform snow covers, but less effective in some partial snow cover situations. Including image analysis improved the power loss estimations in some cases, however, to improve the model accuracy additional factors must be included. The numerous model uncertainties that were identified has a certain impact on the model accuracy which should be investigated further. For further research it is recommended that the model is developed further to include and account for significant snow characteristics

Sustainability transitions in coastal shipping: The role of regime segmentation

Maritime transport has received little attention in sustainability transitions research. This sector is mature and heterogeneous, which suggests the need for a more nuanced perspective on socio-technical regimes to understand variation in conditions for adoption of novel technologies that may support sustainability transitions. We consider this important in order to develop more efficient policy to decarbonize the shipping sector. We develop a framework that explicitly differentiates task and institutional environment of user regimes, enabling us to identify regime segmentation and its influence on three key transition conditions: technology maturity and fit, system integration and infrastructure, and acceptability and legitimacy. We apply our framework to analyse development and uptake of battery-electric energy storage solutions within three segments (coastal ferry, coastal fishing, and offshore supply) of Norwegian coastal shipping. Our analysis suggests that the transition process unfolds along different pathways in different user segments, pointing to a need for segment-specific policy instruments.publishedVersio

Norwegian ship-owners' adoption of alternative fuels

The shipping sector's rising greenhouse gas emissions are often considered “hard-to-abate”. Some ship-owners have recently adopted or started to consider the adoption of alternative fuels, but systematic studies of this are still lacking. We address this gap by studying how ship-owners differ in both actual and intended adoption of alternative fuels. We analyze data from a unique survey with 281 ship-owners in Norway, a major ship-owning country and center for maritime technology development, with descriptive statistics and analysis of variance. We find early adopters among large and established ship-owners in offshore, international cargo and domestic passenger shipping segments, which are often subjected to specific contractual demands for alternative fuel adoption. Laggards were typically small and young ship-owners operating in shipping segments where demands for alternative fuel adoption are weak. Our findings also suggest that firms' business strategy and financial and knowledge resources may have relevance for ship-owner's adoption of alternative fuels. Our study has implications for national and international policymaking, highlighting for example how contracting mechanisms can be an effective tool in incentivizing the adoption of alternative fuels.publishedVersio

MNCs entering an emerging industry: The choice of governance mode under high uncertainty

This paper provides insights into the choice of governance mode among relatively similar multinational companies (MNCs) entering into an emerging industry characterised by high uncertainty related to technology, market and policy framework. The study utilises a multiple case study methodology, including interviews with members of five MNCs and the perspective of their investees. The case companies are global leaders in related industries (such as hydropower and wind energy), and they have all chosen to enter the tidal energy industry with a similar technology. Based on their choice of governance mode, the case companies are divided into two groups: “Flexibility” and “Control”. The study elaborates on how the two groups’ governance mode choices are driven by “real options” (RO) and “transaction cost economics” (TCE) logic when assessing the high uncertainty related to the technology, the emerging industry and the relationships with potential firms to be invested in

New firms developing novel technology in a complex emerging industry: The road towards commercialization of renewable marine energy technologies

Summary of the thesis: This thesis addresses new technology firms in a complex emerging industry. New firms are typically important participants in emerging industries because of their introduction of new innovative ideas and technologies. However, in addition to their limited resources related to funding, technology expertise and network, new firms in emerging industries are also challenged by a limited socio-political legitimacy compared to firms operating within existing industries. This thesis focuses on how firms can overcome these challenges. The context of the research has been the emerging marine energy industry, which consists of firms developing devices to harness energy from ocean waves and tides. Through multiple-case studies of firms within the industry, four papers addressing different aspects related to technology commercialization have been developed. Article 1 studies the extent of early internationalization among Norwegian marine energy firms. It shows how firms, through international activities, access resources such as funding and technology competence which help them to further develop their technology towards commercialization. Article 2 contributes to the understanding of investors’ non-financial involvement in new technology firms in the early stages of an emerging industry, and focuses on the positive contributions of different types of investors such as business angels, venture capitalists and larger corporations. Article 3 investigates how new technology firms organize their technology development and manufacturing of components in the context of the emerging marine energy industry. The study proposes and discusses three different supply chain configurations. Article 4 studies how MNCs’ assessment of different uncertainties affects their governance mode when entering an emerging industry. More specifically, if MNCs choose modes giving flexibility (minority investments) or control (internal development or acquisition). The summary chapter divides the commercialization process in the marine energy industry into three specific technological and financial gaps: 1) ‘From laboratory to scale models’, 2) ‘From scale models to the real world’, and 3) ‘Towards commercialization’. These gaps are increasingly more technologically advanced and capital demanding, and it is discussed how different investors and strategies related to internationalization and supply chain configuration, can help overcome these gaps. Finally, implications for research, managers and policy makers are discussed

Power Loss Estimation of PV Modules Through IV-characteristics and Image Analysis

In this thesis a methodology utilizing IV-characteristics and image analysis to model power losses due to snow cover is presented. The objective of this dissertation is to investigate the performance of PV modules under different snow cover conditions by simulating and analyzing IV-curves. Additionally, investigating if image analysis could be useful in estimating snow cover, and could improve the modelled IV-curve power loss estimations. An IV-characteristics model in MATLAB Simulink was used to model situations with uniform and partial snow cover for different irradiance and snow depth conditions. The image analysis method was used to estimate PV module snow cover and used in combination with the IV-curve model to improve power loss estimations. It was concluded that the IV-curve model proved capable of estimating power losses due to uniform snow covers, but less effective in some partial snow cover situations. Including image analysis improved the power loss estimations in some cases, however, to improve the model accuracy additional factors must be included. The numerous model uncertainties that were identified has a certain impact on the model accuracy which should be investigated further. For further research it is recommended that the model is developed further to include and account for significant snow characteristics

The funding of new technology firms in a pre-commercial industry – the role of smart capital

In this article, we focus on how investors add value, in addition to finances, to resource-constrained young technology companies in a pre-commercial and capital-intensive industry. Based on a review of the entrepreneurial finance literature, we group investors' value-added contributions into four categories: ‘Business development’, ‘Technology development’, ‘Investor's outreach’ and ‘Legitimacy’. We build our study on six case studies of firms in the pre-commercial and emerging marine energy industry. Our case companies have received investments from business angels (BAs), venture capital (VC) firms and larger corporations (CVCs). We observed that the contributions from the investors clearly differ and that CVC investors appear to be especially important as their involvement helps increase young technology firms' credibility, which could be a crucial factor in pre-commercial and emerging industries. Overall, by engaging ‘smart capital’, a company can move from a situation of true uncertainty to one of manageable risk

Configuration of supply chains in emerging industries: a multiple-case study in the wave-and-tidal energy industry

Companies in emerging industries face particular challenges in configuring effective supply chains. In this paper, we build on transaction cost economics to explore how supply chains can be configured in emerging industries. We focus on two key aspects of supply chain configuration: the make-or-buy decision and the strength of the ties between a focal firm and its suppliers. We utilise a multiple-case study methodology, including seven start-up companies in the emerging wave-and-tidal energy industry. We propose three models for supply chain configuration in emerging industries The Market Model, The Ally Model and The Maker Model and discuss the circumstances in which each model is suitable