There is pressing need to understand the potential of emerging low-carbon energy supply technologies, and the learning processes (or effects) associated with them. In particular, analytical approaches are needed that are able to balance simplification (to allow comparisons between technologies), and complexity (to recognise technology specific enablers and barriers).
In addressing this issue, this paper firstly briefly reviews existing tools used to compare emerging technologies, especially learning curves and learning rates. Then, drawing on expert accounts of learning effects for several emerging low-carbon energy supply technologies, a novel framework based on ‘learning pathways’ is developed. A learning pathways framing enables cross technology and inter-temporal analysis of learning processes. Finally, research themes are identified to further elaborate the learning pathways approach.