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Introducing Modern Energy Services into Developing Countries: The Role of Local Community Socio-Economic Structures

Author

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  • Willington Ortiz

    (Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy, Research Group Future Energy and Mobility Structures, Doeppersberg 19, 42103 Wuppertal, Germany)

  • Carmen Dienst

    (Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy, Research Group Future Energy and Mobility Structures, Doeppersberg 19, 42103 Wuppertal, Germany)

  • Julia Terrapon-Pfaff

    (Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy, Research Group Future Energy and Mobility Structures, Doeppersberg 19, 42103 Wuppertal, Germany
    Department of Geography and Geosciences, University of Trier, Behringstraße 21, 54296 Trier, Germany)

Abstract

Sustainable energy technologies are widely sought-after as essential elements in facing global challenges such as energy security, global warming and poverty reduction. However, in spite of their promising advantages, sustainable energy technologies make only a marginal contribution to meeting energy related needs in both industrialised and developing countries, in comparison to the widespread use of unsustainable technologies. One of the most significant constraints to their adoption and broad diffusion is the socio-economic context in which sustainable energy technologies are supposed to operate. The same holds true for community-based energy projects in developing countries supported by the WISIONS initiative. Practical strategies dealing with these socio-economic challenges are crucial elements for project design and, particularly, for the implementation of project activities. In this paper experiences from implementing community-based projects are reviewed in order to identify the practical elements that are relevant to overcome socio-economic challenges. In order to systematise the findings, an analytical framework is proposed, which combines analytical tools from the socio-technical transition framework and insights from participative approaches to development.

Suggested Citation

  • Willington Ortiz & Carmen Dienst & Julia Terrapon-Pfaff, 2012. "Introducing Modern Energy Services into Developing Countries: The Role of Local Community Socio-Economic Structures," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 4(3), pages 1-18, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:4:y:2012:i:3:p:341-358:d:16480
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Agarwal, Bina, 1983. "Diffusion of rural innovations: Some analytical issues and the case of wood-burning stoves," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 11(4), pages 359-376, April.
    2. Smith, Adrian & Stirling, Andy & Berkhout, Frans, 2005. "The governance of sustainable socio-technical transitions," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 34(10), pages 1491-1510, December.
    3. Geels, Frank W., 2002. "Technological transitions as evolutionary reconfiguration processes: a multi-level perspective and a case-study," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 31(8-9), pages 1257-1274, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Miriam Müller & Oscar Reutter, 2017. "Vision Development towards a Sustainable North Rhine-Westphalia 2030 in a Science-Practice-Dialogue," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(7), pages 1-27, June.
    2. Chantal Ruppert-Winkel & Jürgen Hauber, 2014. "Changing the Energy System towards Renewable Energy Self-Sufficiency—Towards a multi-perspective and Interdisciplinary Framework," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 6(5), pages 1-10, May.
    3. Lilies Setiartiti & Rahmat Adiprasetya Al-Hasibi, 2021. "Designing Institutional Models For Renewable Energy Project Sustainability," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 11(5), pages 147-156.
    4. McMaster, R. & Noble, B. & Poelzer, G., 2024. "Assessing local capacity for community appropriate sustainable energy transitions in northern and remote Indigenous communities," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 191(C).
    5. Ortiz, Willington & Terrapon-Pfaff, Julia & Dienst, Carmen, 2017. "Understanding the diffusion of domestic biogas technologies. Systematic conceptualisation of existing evidence from developing and emerging countries," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 1287-1299.

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