Articles

The Participation of NGOs in Technology Policy: The Shaping of Feed-in Tariffs in Korea

Hong-Tak Lim

Abstract

What difference is made by the participation of NGOs (non-governmental organisations, such as citizen movements, pressure groups) in government technology programs? We address this question by investigating the contributions NGOs have made to the Feed-in Tariff (FIT) program in Korea. NGOs have argued for a substantial shift in energy practices. They advocate self-reliant lifestyles, on-site generation and use of energy, and more frugal consumption of energy. NGOs were engaged in the FIT process, and hoped to realize a distributed and self-reliant energy system. They did not, in fact, shape the operation of the FIT in a major way. However, they did play the role of green lead users in one respect through their participation. NGOs influenced the design of the FIT so that it supported small-scale Solar PV power generators. While the capacity of such generators is minimal, there might be the seeds here for a wider transformation of social convention in energy generation and consumptionbehavior. We conclude by drawing wider lessons for NGO participationin technology policy.

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