Analysis of the technological innovations acquisition: a comparative case study between a hydroelectric power plant and a thermoelectric plant

Abstract

This paper aims to present a comparative investigation of the evaluation criteria which determine the decision to adopt new technologies on the part of the environmental management departments in two organizations from the power generation sector. The option for this sector is relevant since it is composed of organizations supervised by regulatory agencies, which apply similar levels of pressure on them. The choice for the studied cases was intentional, and criteria used consisted not only of their access, but also their relevance for the country’s power generation needs. The methodology employed was of a qualitative nature, and represents a comparative case study. It was observed that the financial and operational nature criteria were predominant. Finally, the fact that culture influences attitudes to sustainability and environmental legislation, and that the technical context associated with efficiency and the socio-environmental context in which the power plants operate, interfere in the criteria for selection and acquisition of innovations, was verified. Based on these observations, a conceptual model is tendered.

Keywords

• Environmental management
• Acquisition of technological innovations
• Power Generation