technologies at different stages of maturity require different
forms of policy instrument to support their maturation more
effectively. Foxon et al. provide some classification of some RES-H
technologies specific to the UK instance and comment as to the
stage of maturity at which certain policy instruments may be
most appropriate. It is worth noting that it cannot be assumed
that technologies will be at the same stage of maturity in all
nations simultaneously, especially since installers and their skills
are always country-specific. It is necessary for countries and
regions considering adoption of policy relating to RES-H to
consider the stage of maturity of any technology they wish to
support and to design accordingly. This has the potential to throw
up political difficulty. Some policy makers shy away from creating
policy which requires ‘picking winners’, preferring instead to
adopt policies which allow the market the greatest possible
leeway to decide which technology best meets customer needs.
Adopting a ‘one size fits all’ policy in this manner is likely to lead
to some RES-H technologies being disadvantaged compared to
others, and potentially undermining their commercialisation with
an attendant risk to long term potential for cost reduction and
industrial opportunities