Competitive advantage of German renewable energy firms in India and China

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to analyze the competitive advantage of German renewable energy firms in India and China. Porter's diamond model is modified and specified for the renewable energy industry.Design/methodology/approach – Based on Porter's diamond model of competitiveness, the authors examine the demand for renewable energies in India and China and the ability of German firms to meet this demand.Findings – While the overall demand for renewable energies in India and China is significant, the study reveals remarkable differences in the fields of biomass, solar and wind energy. The findings are meant to address managers in the renewable energy industry and to aid policy makers in environmental support and action.Research limitations/implications – A major theoretical contribution of the study is the application of Porter's diamond model to the renewable energy industry, as well as the identification and operationalization of the relevant causal and proxy variables.Practical implications ...