Clean energy innovation is pivotal for low-cost energy sector decarbonization. Substantial public research and development funding is spent on energy innovation. Generating more evidence on which support mechanisms most effectively drive clean energy innovations, and why, could improve their design moving forward. In this Perspective, we discuss five challenges that researchers often face when attempting to rigorously evaluate energy innovation policies and public subsidy programmes. We recommend solutions, such as developing new innovation outcome metrics that consider unique features of the energy sector and building databases that cover long time periods. We also suggest that researchers and funding agencies work together to implement randomized control trials or conduct quasi-experimental evaluation of existing programmes and policies wherever possible.

清洁能源创新对于低成本能源部门的脱碳至关重要。大量公共研究与开发资金用于能源创新。收集更多证据表明哪些支持机制最有效地推动了清洁能源创新，以及为什么可以改善其设计。在此观点中，我们讨论了研究人员在尝试严格评估能源创新政策和公共补贴计划时经常面临的五个挑战。我们推荐解决方案，例如开发考虑能源行业独特特征的新创新成果指标，以及建立涵盖较长时间段的数据库。