Abstract
The Federal Photovoltaics Utilization Program(FPUP) was established in 1978 with the belief that getting photovoltaic cells into the market was a “bootstrap problem” - one of eliminating market uncertainties through federal procurements to enable investments in improved production processes. A lack of clearly defined program objectives and expected results, however, was translated into continuing difficulties in implementation. Using the FPUP experience as an example, an alternative model of photovoltaic procurement is proposed which is simultaneously more structured (in that greater analytical control is used in selecting applications to fund) and more adaptive (in that continuous feedback is built in). A discussion of such a framework and sequential evaluation design is followed by some comments pertaining to the future of other commercialization efforts.
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The author is Vice-President and Senior Associate of the Research and Decision Center and Partner in Gordon Enk and Associates, both located in Medusa, New York. He is currently on leave at the University of Michigan.
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Hart, S.L. The Federal Photovoltaics Utilization Program: An evaluation and learning framework. Policy Sci 15, 325–343 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00146006
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00146006