Annotated bibliography
RENEWABLE ENERGY MARKETS IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES:
Annual Review of Energy and the Environment, Vol. 27: 309-348 (Volume publication date November 2002)
DOI: 10.1146/annurev.energy.27.122001.083444, Authors: Martinot, E. Chaurey, A. Lew, D. Moreira, J, R. & Wamukonya, N.
Overview
This journal article takes the position that renewable energy is moving from the periphery to the centre of sustainable energy development. “Developing countries have 80% of the world’s population but consume only 30% of global commercial energy” Martinot, E. Chaurey, A. Lew, D. Moreira, J, R. and Wamukonya, N. (2002). Renewable Energy Markets In Developing Countries, 310, 309-348). The authors support the view, that renewable energy is making a valuable contribution to rural development.
Introduction
The article strives to create a global overview of renewable energy markets in developing countries. It concentrates on end user applications and how markets for renewable energy can be developed and sustained. With this in mind “an aggregate review of past market experience, existing applications and results, policies and programs, organised by end-user applications rather than by technology is conducted” Martinot, E. et al (2002). Renewable Energy Markets in Developing Countries, 312, 309-348).
One of the main lessons learned, that to create an effective diffusion of the knowledge required to develop and sustain renewable energy projects is to take a market orientated approach. The authors reflect on this approach by investigating why many earlier renewable energy programs were unsuccessful and identifies that the requirements for sustainability and replication were missing. This resulted in inadequate training and poor management practices, with consequential equipment failure. New initiatives spurned on by the United Nations Development Program, encompassed projects which were designed to promote sustainable technological diffusion and market development by removing barriers to skills and financing, and urging organisational improvements and proactive government and local government policies.
This could be described as taking a market orientated approach that responds to local demand and user needs, encouraging local enterprises to create a sustained service, encompassing, maintenance, sales, after sales service, advice and information and to help create financing processes autonomous of donor aid. The authors refer to the Renewable Energy task force created by the G8, (G8 Renewable Energy Task Force. 2001) which recommends a market oriented approach and sets out developmental goals for renewables in developing countries. These goals have been established as a result of a growing body of evidence supporting the position that the best way to encourage renewable energy is to grow and support markets for specific applications that offer the economic and social benefits most needed.
On page 317 the article emphasis again the importance of technological diffusion and market development, taking an example from India where” frequent change of operating personnel, unskilled operators, inadequate user training, and unrealistic user expectations that suppliers should be responsible for all problems”,(Martinot, E. et al (2002). Renewable Energy Markets in Developing Countries, 317, 309-348) hampered development and failed to create a good reputation.
Further evidence of the need to develop an inclusive infrastructure in the development of renewable energies is highlighted on page 326, “where rural electrification took place without other supporting economic infrastructure and skills, as happened in many development projects, productive economic development did not follow, acknowledged both the World Bank and the German aid agency GTZ”. (World Bank. 1996). (World Bank. 1995). (Deutsche Gesellschaft f¨ur Technische Zusammenarbeit. 1995).
Research carried out in this article found that the largest markets for solar home systems close to Europe is Morocco with over 80000 installations, from the point of view of further research, Morocco’s relative proximity is an advantage.
Information that is directly relevant to my research proposal is provided in a section on the use of renewable energy to provide clean drinking water and the observation that this is emerging as a potential major market.” Applications include both mechanical pumping/filtering and ultraviolet (UV) disinfection. In areas where commercial or piped water is unavailable, villagers may walk several hours each day to obtain drinking water.” ”, (Martinot, E. et al (2002). P 320, 309-348).
My interest was also engaged by the reference to the work of the organisation “Greenstar” which is “developing “solar community centres” in villages with lighting, satellite links, computers, and video equipment to allow sales of local music and crafts over the internet. Other examples include paper making, building materials, wood and metal working, drip irrigation, greenhouses, electric livestock fences, sewing, distance education, and vaccine refrigeration”. (Martinot, E. et al (2002). P 320, 309-348). The suggestion as regards the further expansion of distance education using renewable energy in this manner I believe can be used in further research in my applied eLearning project.
These are some of the attributes that solar home and solar community systems can provide, “helping improve household welfare and quality of life, which include improved lighting for children’s education, adult study, evening cottage industry, as well as television and radio, distance education via television is also cited for subjects like farming, health care, and language”. (Martinot, E. et al (2002). P 327, 309-348).
Further confirmation of the contribution renewable energies can make to rural communities is provided on page 327 “We hypothesize that applications of renewable energy that provide income generation and social benefits, such as clean drinking water, cottage industry, distance education, and improved agricultural productivity, will appeal to increasing segments of rural populations (Van Campen B, Guidi D, Best G. 2000.).
The article quotes statistical figures in proving its contention that “Given the right geographic resources and regional-specific costs of competing fuels, many of these technologies can produce electricity at costs competitive with conventional forms of electric power”. (Martinot, E. et al (2002). P 321, 309-348).
Further weight is given to the economic case for increased use of renewables by on page 325 by the estimate that US$140 billion would have been added to Brazil’s foreign debt if ethanol had not been used as a fuel over the past 25 years, although this significant benefit has gone largely unreported and unnoticed by policy makers (Moreira JR, Goldemberg J. 1999). The balance e of payments impact of the use of renewables in developing economies can be significant with a lessening of dependence on expensive imported fossil fuels and a corresponding saving in foreign exchange.
As part of the concluding discussion the authors remark that “Solar PV appears poised to increasingly pump, purify, and distribute drinking water in isolated villages”. ”. (Martinot, E. et al (2002). P 339, 309-348). They also discuss the growth in Community-based cell phones, satellite phones, and internet connections for distance education, and examine the rate of growth in these technologies in a selection of developing countries.
The authors draw on a variety of sources to support their position that a significant investment in training, including local capabilities to adapt, install, operate, and maintain technologies and to build local manufacturing industries is essential to avoid what is referred to as technical imperialism. I found this a noteworthy article from a research point of view, I was concerned that its date of publication (2002), might make some of the content quite dated and I would be anxious to follow up on more current material. Overall I believe it gave me an adequate introduction to my research area, but in further readings I will focus on more specific, targeted and up to date sources.
References:
Book of Kells. (No-date). - Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia, en.wikipedia.org. image, shows Christ enthroned.
G8 Renewable Energy Task Force. (2001). Final Report, http://www.renewabletask force.org
Martinot, E. Chaurey, A. Lew, D. Moreira, J, R. & Wamukonya,N. (2002). Renewable Energy Markets In Developing Countries, 310, 309-348).
Martinot, E. et al (2002). Renewable Energy Markets in Developing Countries, 312, 309-348).
Moreira, J, R. Goldemberg, J. (1999). The alcohol program. Energy Policy 27(4):229–45
Van Campen B, Guidi D, Best G. (2000). Annual Review of Energy and the Environment.
World Bank. (1995). Rural Electrification: A Hard Look at Costs and Benefits. Oper.Eval. Dep. Pr´ecis No. 90,Washington,DC
World Bank. (1996). Rural Energy and Development: Improving Energy Supplies for 2 Billion People. Washington, DC
World Bank. (1996). Deutsche Gesellschaft f¨ur Technische Zusammenarbeit. 1995.