IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v14y2021i13p3757-d580305.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The Sustainability of Decentralised Renewable Energy Projects in Developing Countries: Learning Lessons from Zambia

Author

Listed:
  • Susann Stritzke

    (Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QY, UK)

  • Prem Jain

    (Department of Physics, University of Zambia, Lusaka P. O. Box 32379, Zambia)

Abstract

Decentralised renewable energy (RE) systems such as solar PV mini-grids (MG) are considered to be a cornerstone for the strategic achievement of the UN’s energy access goals in the developing world. Many of these systems implemented however face substantial technical, financial and social sustainability challenges which are also a recurring theme in the relevant literature. MG analyses however often lack detailed technical or financial data or apply ‘silo-approaches’ as a comprehensive review of MG case study literature presented in this article reveals. Consequently, this study aims to enhance the understanding of RE MG sustainability in the developing context based on the integrated evaluation of the technical, financial and social dimensions of MG operation through empirical data from community surveys on energy use from Uganda and Zambia and two in-depth MG case studies from Zambia. By presenting detailed technical and financial data in combination with energy consumer perception, the study aims to close existing data gaps on sustainable RE MG operation and offers an approach to evaluate and optimise the operational sustainability of an MG in its individual local context. The article finds that the complex rural community ecosystem is a central, but yet undervalued determinant of MG sustainability in rural developing contexts. The mismatch between energy affordability and MG tariffs threatens MG sustainability and the scaling of energy access projects if not addressed specifically during project development and implementation. Consequently, the article calls for a strategic inclusion of community-ecosystem parameters and MG planning based on realistic energy affordability levels and an added value approach that includes dynamic MG financing mechanisms and targeted measures to generate added value through energy consumption as integral parts of RE MG projects.

Suggested Citation

  • Susann Stritzke & Prem Jain, 2021. "The Sustainability of Decentralised Renewable Energy Projects in Developing Countries: Learning Lessons from Zambia," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-44, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:14:y:2021:i:13:p:3757-:d:580305
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/13/3757/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/13/3757/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Terrapon-Pfaff, Julia & Dienst, Carmen & König, Julian & Ortiz, Willington, 2014. "A cross-sectional review: Impacts and sustainability of small-scale renewable energy projects in developing countries," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 40(C), pages 1-10.
    2. Odou, Oluwarotimi Delano Thierry & Bhandari, Ramchandra & Adamou, Rabani, 2020. "Hybrid off-grid renewable power system for sustainable rural electrification in Benin," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 145(C), pages 1266-1279.
    3. Goldthau, Andreas & Sovacool, Benjamin K., 2012. "The uniqueness of the energy security, justice, and governance problem," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 41(C), pages 232-240.
    4. Brent, Alan Colin & Rogers, David E., 2010. "Renewable rural electrification: Sustainability assessment of mini-hybrid off-grid technological systems in the African context," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 35(1), pages 257-265.
    5. Hirsch, Adam & Parag, Yael & Guerrero, Josep, 2018. "Microgrids: A review of technologies, key drivers, and outstanding issues," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 90(C), pages 402-411.
    6. Snyder, Hannah, 2019. "Literature review as a research methodology: An overview and guidelines," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 104(C), pages 333-339.
    7. Bhattacharyya, Subhes C. & Palit, Debajit, 2016. "Mini-grid based off-grid electrification to enhance electricity access in developing countries: What policies may be required?," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 166-178.
    8. Wong, Sam, 2012. "Overcoming obstacles against effective solar lighting interventions in South Asia," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 40(C), pages 110-120.
    9. Peters, Jörg & Sievert, Maximiliane & Toman, Michael A., 2019. "Rural electrification through mini-grids: Challenges ahead," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 132(C), pages 27-31.
    10. Mulugetta, Yacob & Nhete, Tinashe & Jackson, Tim, 2000. "Photovoltaics in Zimbabwe: lessons from the GEF Solar project," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 28(14), pages 1069-1080, November.
    11. Sarah Feron & Raúl R. Cordero & Fernando Labbe, 2017. "Rural Electrification Efforts Based on Off-Grid Photovoltaic Systems in the Andean Region: Comparative Assessment of Their Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(10), pages 1-23, October.
    12. Kittner, Noah & Gheewala, Shabbir H. & Kammen, Daniel M., 2016. "Energy return on investment (EROI) of mini-hydro and solar PV systems designed for a mini-grid," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 99(C), pages 410-419.
    13. Kruger, Wikus & Stritzke, Susann & Trotter, Philipp A., 2019. "De-risking solar auctions in sub-Saharan Africa – A comparison of site selection strategies in South Africa and Zambia," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 104(C), pages 429-438.
    14. Hussain, Akhtar & Arif, Syed Muhammad & Aslam, Muhammad, 2017. "Emerging renewable and sustainable energy technologies: State of the art," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 71(C), pages 12-28.
    15. Azimoh, Chukwuma Leonard & Klintenberg, Patrik & Mbohwa, Charles & Wallin, Fredrik, 2017. "Replicability and scalability of mini-grid solution to rural electrification programs in sub-Saharan Africa," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 106(C), pages 222-231.
    16. Wamukonya, Njeri, 2007. "Solar home system electrification as a viable technology option for Africa's development," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 35(1), pages 6-14, January.
    17. Hansen, Ulrich Elmer & Pedersen, Mathilde Brix & Nygaard, Ivan, 2015. "Review of solar PV policies, interventions and diffusion in East Africa," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 46(C), pages 236-248.
    18. Karimi, Hamid & Jadid, Shahram, 2020. "Optimal energy management for multi-microgrid considering demand response programs: A stochastic multi-objective framework," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 195(C).
    19. Baptista, Idalina & Plananska, Jana, 2017. "The landscape of energy initiatives in sub-Saharan Africa: Going for systemic change or reinforcing the status quo?," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 110(C), pages 1-8.
    20. Muhoza, Cassilde & Johnson, Oliver W., 2018. "Exploring household energy transitions in rural Zambia from the user perspective," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 121(C), pages 25-34.
    21. Narayan, Nishant & Papakosta, Thekla & Vega-Garita, Victor & Qin, Zian & Popovic-Gerber, Jelena & Bauer, Pavol & Zeman, Miroslav, 2018. "Estimating battery lifetimes in Solar Home System design using a practical modelling methodology," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 228(C), pages 1629-1639.
    22. Mandelli, Stefano & Barbieri, Jacopo & Mereu, Riccardo & Colombo, Emanuela, 2016. "Off-grid systems for rural electrification in developing countries: Definitions, classification and a comprehensive literature review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 1621-1646.
    23. Stritzke, Susann & Trotter, Philipp A. & Twesigye, Peter, 2021. "Towards responsive energy governance: Lessons from a holistic analysis of energy access in Uganda and Zambia," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 148(PA).
    24. Alexandros Korkovelos & Hisham Zerriffi & Mark Howells & Morgan Bazilian & H-Holger Rogner & Francesco Fuso Nerini, 2020. "A Retrospective Analysis of Energy Access with a Focus on the Role of Mini-Grids," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-29, February.
    25. Bhattacharyya, Subhes C., 2013. "Financing energy access and off-grid electrification: A review of status, options and challenges," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 20(C), pages 462-472.
    26. Adenle, Ademola A., 2020. "Assessment of solar energy technologies in Africa-opportunities and challenges in meeting the 2030 agenda and sustainable development goals," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 137(C).
    27. Bayliss, Kate & Pollen, Gabriel, 2021. "The power paradigm in practice: A critical review of developments in the Zambian electricity sector," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 140(C).
    28. Susann Stritzke & Carlos Sakyi-Nyarko & Iwona Bisaga & Malcolm Bricknell & Jon Leary & Edward Brown, 2021. "Results-Based Financing (RBF) for Modern Energy Cooking Solutions: An Effective Driver for Innovation and Scale?," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-39, July.
    29. Aparna Katre & Arianna Tozzi, 2018. "Assessing the Sustainability of Decentralized Renewable Energy Systems: A Comprehensive Framework with Analytical Methods," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-18, April.
    30. Boliko, Charles M. & Ialnazov, Dimiter S., 2019. "An assessment of rural electrification projects in Kenya using a sustainability framework," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 133(C).
    31. AbuBakr Bahaj & Luke Blunden & Christopher Kanani & Patrick James & Isaac Kiva & Zoë Matthews & Heather Price & Hildah Essendi & Jane Falkingham & Gerard George, 2019. "The Impact of an Electrical Mini-grid on the Development of a Rural Community in Kenya," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-21, February.
    32. Kristine Bos & Duncan Chaplin & Arif Mamun, "undated". "Benefits and Challenges of Expanding Grid Electricity in Africa: A Review of Rigorous Evidence on Household Impacts in Developing Countries," Mathematica Policy Research Reports 4df837297b3a490e922d53edf, Mathematica Policy Research.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Ahmed, Eihab E.E. & Demirci, Alpaslan, 2022. "Multi-stage and multi-objective optimization for optimal sizing of stand-alone photovoltaic water pumping systems," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 252(C).
    2. Bartłomiej Igliński & Michał Bernard Pietrzak, 2022. "Renewable and Sustainable Energy: Current State and Prospects," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-7, June.
    3. Susann Stritzke & Carlos Sakyi-Nyarko & Iwona Bisaga & Malcolm Bricknell & Jon Leary & Edward Brown, 2021. "Results-Based Financing (RBF) for Modern Energy Cooking Solutions: An Effective Driver for Innovation and Scale?," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-39, July.
    4. Demirci, Alpaslan & Öztürk, Zafer & Tercan, Said Mirza, 2023. "Decision-making between hybrid renewable energy configurations and grid extension in rural areas for different climate zones," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 262(PA).
    5. Ismail Gannan & Hussam Kubaji & Workson Siwale & Stefan Frodeson & G. Venkatesh, 2023. "Streamlined Social Footprint Analysis of the Nascent Bio-Pellet Sub-Sector in Zambia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-17, March.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Mugisha, Joshua & Ratemo, Mike Arasa & Bunani Keza, Bienvenu Christian & Kahveci, Hayriye, 2021. "Assessing the opportunities and challenges facing the development of off-grid solar systems in Eastern Africa: The cases of Kenya, Ethiopia, and Rwanda," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 150(C).
    2. Poudel, B. & Maley, J. & Parton, K. & Morrison, M., 2021. "Factors influencing the sustainability of micro-hydro schemes in Nepal," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 151(C).
    3. Pillot, Benjamin & Muselli, Marc & Poggi, Philippe & Dias, João Batista, 2019. "Historical trends in global energy policy and renewable power system issues in Sub-Saharan Africa: The case of solar PV," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 127(C), pages 113-124.
    4. Ribó-Pérez, David & Herraiz-Cañete, Ángela & Alfonso-Solar, David & Vargas-Salgado, Carlos & Gómez-Navarro, Tomás, 2021. "Modelling biomass gasifiers in hybrid renewable energy microgrids; a complete procedure for enabling gasifiers simulation in HOMER," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 174(C), pages 501-512.
    5. Stritzke, Susann & Trotter, Philipp A. & Twesigye, Peter, 2021. "Towards responsive energy governance: Lessons from a holistic analysis of energy access in Uganda and Zambia," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 148(PA).
    6. Alexandros Korkovelos & Hisham Zerriffi & Mark Howells & Morgan Bazilian & H-Holger Rogner & Francesco Fuso Nerini, 2020. "A Retrospective Analysis of Energy Access with a Focus on the Role of Mini-Grids," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-29, February.
    7. Poudel, B. & Parton, K. & Morrison, M., 2022. "The drivers of the sustainable performance of renewable energy-based mini-grids," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 189(C), pages 1206-1217.
    8. Antoine Boche & Clément Foucher & Luiz Fernando Lavado Villa, 2022. "Understanding Microgrid Sustainability: A Systemic and Comprehensive Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-29, April.
    9. García-Villoria, Alberto & Domenech, Bruno & Ferrer-Martí, Laia & Juanpera, Marc & Pastor, Rafael, 2020. "Ad-hoc heuristic for design of wind-photovoltaic electrification systems, including management constraints," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 212(C).
    10. Laura Del-Río-Carazo & Emiliano Acquila-Natale & Santiago Iglesias-Pradas & Ángel Hernández-García, 2022. "Sustainable Rural Electrification Project Management: An Analysis of Three Case Studies," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-21, February.
    11. Thomas, P.J.M. & Sandwell, P. & Williamson, S.J. & Harper, P.W., 2021. "A PESTLE analysis of solar home systems in refugee camps in Rwanda," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 143(C).
    12. Abhi Chatterjee & Daniel Burmester & Alan Brent & Ramesh Rayudu, 2019. "Research Insights and Knowledge Headways for Developing Remote, Off-Grid Microgrids in Developing Countries," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-19, May.
    13. Michaela Makešová & Michaela Valentová, 2021. "The Concept of Multiple Impacts of Renewable Energy Sources: A Critical Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-21, May.
    14. Brunet, Carole & Savadogo, Oumarou & Baptiste, Pierre & Bouchard, Michel A., 2018. "Shedding some light on photovoltaic solar energy in Africa – A literature review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 96(C), pages 325-342.
    15. Bhattacharyya, S.C. & Palit, D., 2021. "A critical review of literature on the nexus between central grid and off-grid solutions for expanding access to electricity in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 141(C).
    16. Gill-Wiehl, A. & Miles, S. & Wu, J. & Kammen, D.M., 2022. "Beyond customer acquisition: A comprehensive review of community participation in mini grid projects," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 153(C).
    17. Lorafe Lozano & Evelyn B. Taboada, 2021. "The Power of Electricity: How Effective Is It in Promoting Sustainable Development in Rural Off-Grid Islands in the Philippines?," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-17, May.
    18. Onu, Uchenna Godswill & Silva, Giuseppe Scabello & Zambroni de Souza, Antonio Carlos & Bonatto, Benedito Donizeti & Ferreira da Costa, Vinicius Braga, 2022. "Integrated design of photovoltaic power generation plant with pumped hydro storage system and irrigation facility at the Uhuelem-Amoncha African community," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 198(C), pages 1021-1031.
    19. Francisco Javier Vela-Cobos & Ronald Cavero & Carlos A. Platero & José A. Sánchez-Fernández, 2021. "Luces Nuevas Experience Lighting Rural Bolivia: A Way to Reach SDG 7," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-12, September.
    20. Trotter, Philipp A. & McManus, Marcelle C. & Maconachie, Roy, 2017. "Electricity planning and implementation in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 1189-1209.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:14:y:2021:i:13:p:3757-:d:580305. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.