Socio-technical-ecological evaluations of the potential to implement renewable energy sources in coastal areas of tropical developing countries – an East African case study

• The suggested project aims at evaluating the potential for a successful implementation of renewableenergy sources in the coastal zone of tropical developing countries integrating results from differentscientific disciplines (ecology, social science and technology) into a useful support for developmentpolicy. Its emphasis will be on remote areas where poor infrastructures raise the demand forindependent electricity supplies. Moreover, the project intends to identify key-issues and sociotechnicalpathways for a future integration of suitable renewable energy sources in such areas.The research will be based on analyses of the relationships between technical, ecological andsocial systems and focus on applying adequate technology in a socially and ecologically feasible way.The energy sources considered will be selected from local natural flowing resources, i.e. mainly tidal,stream, and wave energies.With funding from Sida (SAREC Planning Grant) and Adlerbertska Forskningsstiftelsen, a planningstudy was carried out during October – November 2007, including the subsequent parts:1) meetings with representatives from several concerned institutions in Mozambique and inTanzania2) field visit to remote rural areas in southern Tanzania where hydrographical and coastmorphological features were documented3) meetings with village representatives in remote rural southern Tanzania in order to collectinformation about living standards, energy demands and development intentionsCompiled results from the three parts are presented in this report and will constitute a baseline for theforthcoming application of Sida Project grant, to be handed in April 2008. When taking part of theresults it is important to keep in mind that the suggested project does not intend to construct any actualpower plants, or pilot plants, but to study the prerequisites and consequences, technical, natural as wellas societal in order to evaluate if and how a future implementation of these recent technologies couldbe carried out in a feasible and sustainable way.This report is written with a plain perspective and contains no abstract. As the proceedings of the studywill be the basis for a research application in progress, conclusions will instead be developed withinthat context.

Subject headings

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Naturresursteknik -- Annan naturresursteknik (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Environmental Engineering -- Other Environmental Engineering (hsv//eng)

Keyword

socio-technical system

wave power

tidal power

coastal-zone management

Mocambique

renewable energy

detached grids

rural electrification

innovation system

sustainability assessment of technology

Tanzania

developing countries

Publication and Content Type

rap (subject category)

vet (subject category)