Unlocking Potential: Identifying and Overcoming Barriers to Innovation in the Energy Sector

Abstract

How do common barriers to innovation and the Valleys of Death (VoDs) challenge technological innovation within the energy sector, and which strategies are the most effective in overcoming these challenges? The focus of this article is to answer this question. This scoping review follows the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews review (PRISMA-ScR). Papers used in this review were identified through a search string developed and implemented in Scopus; keyword searches were conducted in Scopus, Google Scholar, and the Stellenbosch University Library; and relevant papers' reference lists were consulted. Three screening phases were implemented to narrow the papers, ensuring each corresponded to the inclusion criteria. Based on the literature, the four main categories of barriers to innovation were listed - social, financial, technological, and regulatory - along with several sub-barriers for each. Gaps in the literature were identified due to the lack of evidence in existing literature to answer the research questions developed for this review comprehensively. Further research will be conducted into trends within the barriers to innovation and methods to overcome the barriers experienced.