Benchmark Analysis and Business Operation Model of a Clean Energy Commercialization Accelerator

The Clean Technology Community Gateway (CTCG) is a not-for-profit organization which was established to coordinate clean energy project consortia in BC for end users such as on- and off-grid communities and municipalities. The core business strategy of CTCG is to focus initially on remote communities as its target market. The initiative is designed to close the commercialization gap between emerging clean energy technologies and community needs by managing and implementing large-scale demonstration projects. In order to develop and implement the best business practices for CTCG, this report explores different business operational models which were adopted by different non-profit clean energy commercialization organizations. A two-stage approach is employed where, in the first stage, over fifteen organizations (including twelve non-profit organizations and three university research parks) in Canada, the U.S., and Europe are selected for benchmark analysis. Four distinct business operational models are identified based upon an in-depth analysis: incubation focused, technology-enabled, market-enabled, and strategic partnership. Thereafter, a typology of organizations is proposed, based on four discriminating models: governance, finance, operation, and revenue. In the second stage, the typological analysis is employed to unravel best business practices for CTCG in view of governance structure, management practice, community impacts, overall business model and performance, strategic plan, and operation.