Transforming Access to Clean Energy Technologies in the Global South: Learning from Lighting Africa in Kenya
As SDG7-related interventions seek to transform access to clean energy, this paper presents an analysis of both a previous transformative intervention (Lighting Africa) and a theoretical approach to understanding how such transformations can be achieved in the Global South (socio-technical innovatio...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-07-01
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| Series: | Energies |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/14/4362 |
| _version_ | 1797527172818141184 |
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| author | David Ockwell Robert Byrne Joanes Atela Victoria Chengo Elsie Onsongo Jacob Fodio Todd Victoria Kasprowicz Adrian Ely |
| author_facet | David Ockwell Robert Byrne Joanes Atela Victoria Chengo Elsie Onsongo Jacob Fodio Todd Victoria Kasprowicz Adrian Ely |
| author_sort | David Ockwell |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | As SDG7-related interventions seek to transform access to clean energy, this paper presents an analysis of both a previous transformative intervention (Lighting Africa) and a theoretical approach to understanding how such transformations can be achieved in the Global South (socio-technical innovation system, STIS, building). The paper makes four contributions. First, it tests the extent to which the STIS-building concept is useful in understanding and conceptualising how Lighting Africa transformed the market for solar lanterns in Kenya from an estimated market size of 29,000 lamps in 2009 to one where 680,000 Lighting Africa certified lamps were sold in Kenya by the end of the Programme in 2013. Second, it presents the most in-depth analysis of Lighting Africa that we are aware of to date. Third, it presents a conceptual framework that illustrates the Lighting Africa approach, providing a framework for future policy interventions aiming to transform access to clean energy technologies in the Global South. Fourth, it reflects on weaknesses in the STIS approach. In particular, these include a need to better attend to: the gendered implications of interventions (and social justice more broadly); implications of different scales of technologies; value accumulation and the extent to which interventions benefit indigenous actors and local economies; and the political and economic implications of any intervention and its distribution of benefits. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T09:40:15Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8059a22c98bc4b1ca497aaf112e5b3b1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T09:40:15Z |
| publishDate | 2021-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj.art-8059a22c98bc4b1ca497aaf112e5b3b12023-11-22T03:44:18ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732021-07-011414436210.3390/en14144362Transforming Access to Clean Energy Technologies in the Global South: Learning from Lighting Africa in KenyaDavid Ockwell0Robert Byrne1Joanes Atela2Victoria Chengo3Elsie Onsongo4Jacob Fodio Todd5Victoria Kasprowicz6Adrian Ely7Department of Geography, School of Global Studies, University of Sussex, Brighton BN1 9SJ, UKSPRU (Science Policy Research Unit), Sussex Business School, University of Sussex, Brighton BN1 9SL, UKAfrican Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS), ICIPE Duduville Campus, Kasarani, P.O. Box 45917-00100 Nairobi, KenyaAfrican Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS), ICIPE Duduville Campus, Kasarani, P.O. Box 45917-00100 Nairobi, KenyaCentre for Innovation Research, Centenary House, Block B, 1st Floor, Ring Road Westlands Lane, P.O. Box 2781-00606 Nairobi, KenyaSPRU (Science Policy Research Unit), Sussex Business School, University of Sussex, Brighton BN1 9SL, UKSPRU (Science Policy Research Unit), Sussex Business School, University of Sussex, Brighton BN1 9SL, UKSPRU (Science Policy Research Unit), Sussex Business School, University of Sussex, Brighton BN1 9SL, UKAs SDG7-related interventions seek to transform access to clean energy, this paper presents an analysis of both a previous transformative intervention (Lighting Africa) and a theoretical approach to understanding how such transformations can be achieved in the Global South (socio-technical innovation system, STIS, building). The paper makes four contributions. First, it tests the extent to which the STIS-building concept is useful in understanding and conceptualising how Lighting Africa transformed the market for solar lanterns in Kenya from an estimated market size of 29,000 lamps in 2009 to one where 680,000 Lighting Africa certified lamps were sold in Kenya by the end of the Programme in 2013. Second, it presents the most in-depth analysis of Lighting Africa that we are aware of to date. Third, it presents a conceptual framework that illustrates the Lighting Africa approach, providing a framework for future policy interventions aiming to transform access to clean energy technologies in the Global South. Fourth, it reflects on weaknesses in the STIS approach. In particular, these include a need to better attend to: the gendered implications of interventions (and social justice more broadly); implications of different scales of technologies; value accumulation and the extent to which interventions benefit indigenous actors and local economies; and the political and economic implications of any intervention and its distribution of benefits.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/14/4362energy accesssustainability transformationssolar lanternsclean cookingelectric cooking |
| spellingShingle | David Ockwell Robert Byrne Joanes Atela Victoria Chengo Elsie Onsongo Jacob Fodio Todd Victoria Kasprowicz Adrian Ely Transforming Access to Clean Energy Technologies in the Global South: Learning from Lighting Africa in Kenya Energies energy access sustainability transformations solar lanterns clean cooking electric cooking |
| title | Transforming Access to Clean Energy Technologies in the Global South: Learning from Lighting Africa in Kenya |
| title_full | Transforming Access to Clean Energy Technologies in the Global South: Learning from Lighting Africa in Kenya |
| title_fullStr | Transforming Access to Clean Energy Technologies in the Global South: Learning from Lighting Africa in Kenya |
| title_full_unstemmed | Transforming Access to Clean Energy Technologies in the Global South: Learning from Lighting Africa in Kenya |
| title_short | Transforming Access to Clean Energy Technologies in the Global South: Learning from Lighting Africa in Kenya |
| title_sort | transforming access to clean energy technologies in the global south learning from lighting africa in kenya |
| topic | energy access sustainability transformations solar lanterns clean cooking electric cooking |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/14/4362 |
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