Selection of renewable energy technologies for Africa: Eight case studies in Rwanda, Tanzania and Malawi

Renewable energy technologies need to be implemented to improve the current lack of access to energy on the African continent. However, the implementation of renewable energy technologies in Africa often fails, or the technologies are found to be unsustainable in the longer term. Previous research determined eleven factors that should be taken into account for the selection of sustainable, renewable energy technologies in Africa. The purpose of this research was to confirm and build upon these findings by means of eight case studies that were conducted in Rwanda, Tanzania and Malawi. Various individuals from implementing agencies, as well as end users of the various technologies, were interviewed, while secondary data were gathered in the form of project reports and other documentation. The analyses of the data confirm the importance of the eleven factors that were previously identified. A final set of thirteen factors that should be used for the selection of renewable technologies are proposed.

[1]  Judith A. Cherni,et al.  Energy and policy providing for sustainable rural livelihoods in remote locations – The case of Cuba , 2009 .

[2]  B.T. Jimenez,et al.  Technology Assessment and Selection of Renewable Energy Sources in the Galapagos Islands - Ecuador , 2007, PICMET '07 - 2007 Portland International Conference on Management of Engineering & Technology.

[3]  David Wield,et al.  Science and technology partnerships and poverty alleviation in Africa , 2005 .

[4]  Israel Dunmade,et al.  Indicators of sustainability: assessing the suitability of a foreign technology for a developing economy , 2002 .

[5]  Marko Torkkeli,et al.  Use of GDSS in technology selection: experiences and findings , 2001, Proceedings of the 34th Annual Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences.

[6]  Huang Lucheng.  Study on emerging technology selection and evaluation by technology foresight and fuzzy consistent matrix , 2008 .

[7]  David Popp,et al.  The Role of Technological Change in Green Growth , 2012 .

[8]  Bodhaswar T. Maharaj,et al.  A Technology Selection Framework for the Telecommunications Industry in Developing Countries , 2008, 2008 IEEE International Conference on Communications.

[9]  S. Teitel,et al.  On the Concept of Appropriate Technology for Less Industrialized Countries : Technological Forecasting and Social Change , 1978 .

[10]  Alan C. Brent,et al.  Determining the most important factors for sustainable energy technology selection in Africa: Application of the focus group technique , 2008 .

[11]  Gerjo Kok,et al.  A strategy and protocol to increase diffusion of energy related innovations into the mainstream of housing associations , 2006 .

[12]  Matthew S. Mendis,et al.  THE NEPAL BIOGAS SUPPORT PROGRAM: A SUCCESSFUL MODEL OF PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP FOR RURAL HOUSEHOLD ENERGY SUPPLY , 2005 .

[13]  Marie-Louise Barry.  Contributions to the theory and practice of technology selection : the case of projects to ensure a sustainable energy base for Africa , 2011 .

[14]  Patricia Jaramillo,et al.  Energy supply for sustainable rural livelihoods. A multi-criteria decision-support system , 2007 .

[15]  Siddharth Sharma,et al.  Green Growth, Technology and Innovation , 2012 .

[16]  G. Prasad,et al.  Renewable energy technologies for poverty alleviation: Initial Assessment Report South Africa , 2005 .

[17]  Agnes G. Mwakaje,et al.  Dairy farming and biogas use in Rungwe district, South-west Tanzania: A study of opportunities and constraints , 2008 .

[18]  Obas John Ebohon,et al.  Institutional deficiencies and capacity building constraints: the dilemma for environmentally sustainable development in Africa , 1997 .

[19]  K. Q. Nguyen.  Alternatives to grid extension for rural electrification: Decentralized renewable energy technologies in Vietnam , 2007 .

[20]  Alan C. Brent,et al.  The use of the focus group technique in management research : the example of renewable energy technology selection in Africa , 2009 .