Renewable Energy Markets in Developing Countries

Abstract

▪ Abstract Renewable energy is shifting from the fringe to the mainstream of sustainable development. Past donor efforts achieved modest results but often were not sustained or replicated, which leads now to greater market orientation. Markets for rural household lighting with solar home systems, biogas, and small hydro power have expanded through rural entrepreneurship, government programs, and donor assistance, serving millions of households. Applications in agriculture, small industry, and social services are emerging. Public programs resulted in 220 million improved biomass cook stoves. Three percent of power generation capacity is largely small hydro and biomass power, with rapid growth of wind power. Experience suggests the need for technical know-how transfer, new replicable business models, credit for rural households and entrepreneurs, regulatory frameworks and financing for private power developers, market facilitation organizations, donor assistance aimed at expanding sustainable markets, smarter subsidies, and greater attention to social benefits and income generation.

Small-scale portable photovoltaic-battery-LED systems with submersible LED units to replace kerosene-based artisanal fishing lamps for Sub-Saharan African lakes

“…They commonly resort to kerosene, candles, and various biomass resources to supply lighting [4]. While household lighting undoubtedly improves quality of life, this research explores economically productive uses of lighting, which has a greater benefit to off-grid rural areas in aggregate due to external benefits [5].…”

“…This enables local industries to develop on the back of a new clean energy technical solution (such as the success of many cookstove programmes) [6]. However, the record of donor programmes creating viable and sustainable rural enterprises is not good (including those associated with renewable energy systems), and are generally not replicable without external funding and capacity [5]. It is clear that these programmes require a greater involvement of specialist researchers, technical specialists, and local training elements at every stage [7,8].…”

“…It is clear that these programmes require a greater involvement of specialist researchers, technical specialists, and local training elements at every stage [7,8]. Renewable energy system programmes also have a chequered history, often generating unrealistic expectations with optimistic technical, maintenance, economic, and development benefits [5,9,10]. Furthermore, it remains common for very little product testing to occur prior to the introduction of new energy products, often because testing is deemed to be too time consuming and expensive [4].…”

“…Furthermore, it remains common for very little product testing to occur prior to the introduction of new energy products, often because testing is deemed to be too time consuming and expensive [4]. Even when 'bundling' several products into a new system that individually meet high standards and minimum performance requirements, the new system still requires appropriate technical validation of safety and performance over time, with ongoing technical support, and commonly industry and user training requirements [5]. Thus, researchers, industry, and development agencies need to take a collaborative approach in such programmes and focus on private/business concerns regarding energy services and technologies in terms of system technical performance, robustness, financial viability, and community acceptability [3,11].…”

“…Thus, researchers, industry, and development agencies need to take a collaborative approach in such programmes and focus on private/business concerns regarding energy services and technologies in terms of system technical performance, robustness, financial viability, and community acceptability [3,11]. This will likely require co-engagement with innovative local businesses who both facilitate system penetration with existing capacity, ongoing development, and entrepreneurship and customisation to suit local demands [5,12]. For example, spare parts, maintenance, capacity building, local income generating opportunities, warranty services, all facilitated by manufacturers, are a key element to and enduring project [4].…”