Disruptive Innovation in Green Energy Sectors: An Entrepreneurial Perspective

Abstract: Background: Green hydrogen energy systems can address environmental and societal concerns within the energy sector. Therefore, increased attentions from both public and private stakeholders has led to the general perception that hydrogen systems can serve as a disruptive innovation.  Given that disruption innovation theory has seen increased entrepreneurial involvement over recent years, the study focuses on assessing the role of green entrepreneurs within the implementation of hydrogen systems through cross-collaborative efforts and disruptive innovation drivers.    Purpose: The development of a theoretical matrix that interconnects disruptive innovation, entrepreneurial involvement, and cross-collaborative initiatives to establish entrepreneurial positioning roles within the energy market.    Method: The epistemology chosen was interpretivist, and its ontology subjectivism. The research followed an inductive approach. The research was qualitatively conducted and adopted a case study approach. The data was collected through semi-structured interviews, and followed a theoretical sampling approach.   Conclusion: The study proposes a theoretical matrix that extended disruptive innovation theory to green entrepreneurship and concluded that high levels of cross-collaboration, and a high innovation impact, serve as key drivers for green entrepreneurial implementations of disruptive energy. Results highlight the need for entrepreneurial involvement across all stages of market implementations.