Institutional Enablers of Energy System Transition: Lessons from Solar Photovoltaic Electricity in Eight African Countries

doi:10.1017/9781108562492.005

4 - Institutional Enablers of Energy System Transition: Lessons from Solar Photovoltaic Electricity in Eight African Countries

from Part I - Mitigating Institutional Voids by Design

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 14 November 2019

Valerie J. Karplus ,

Donald R. Lessard ,

Ninad Rajpurkar and

Arun Singh

Edited by

Nuno Gil ,

Anne Stafford and

Innocent Musonda

Show author details

Nuno Gil: Affiliation:
University of Manchester
Anne Stafford: Affiliation:
University of Manchester
Innocent Musonda: Affiliation:
University of Johannesburg

Book contents

Get access

Summary

In this chapter, we shall study the role of institutions in clean energy transitions in developing countries. Renewable energy (RE) for electricity generation has been proposed as a way to bridge the gap between affordable and clean-energy infrastructure. We shall examine the drivers of past and planned solar photovoltaic (PV) electricity-capacity expansion in eight African countries during a period of rapidly falling technology costs. The countries in our sample that experienced RE expansion do not have liberalized market-oriented electricity sectors, and many provide only limited policy support. Careful cross-case comparisons point to a set of financing, political/regulatory, value capture and technical capabilities that may help to explain RE outcomes. Although these findings are specific to the group of African countries we studied, they may hold lessons for other settings in the ‘second wave’ of RE development.

Type: Chapter
Information: Duality by Design
The Global Race to Build Africa's Infrastructure
, pp. 97 - 129

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108562492.005 [Opens in a new window]

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Print publication year: 2019

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Ahlborg, H. and Hammar, L. (2014). Drivers and barriers to rural electrification in Tanzania and Mozambique – Grid-extension, off-grid, and renewable energy technologies. Renewable Energy, 61 (2014): 117–124. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2012.09.057 Google Scholar

Bird, L., Milligan, M., and Lew, D. (2013). Integrating Variable Renewable Energy: Challenges and Solutions. NREL/TP-6A20-60451 (September), 14. Washington, DC: National Renewable Energy Laboratory. http://doi.org/NREL/TP-6A20-60451 Google Scholar

Bridge to India. (2017, 22 May). GST to cause significant disruption to the solar sector. India Solar Weekly. https://bridgetoindia.com/gst-cause-significant-disruption-solar-sector/Google Scholar

Butler, L., and Neuhoff, K. (2008). Comparison of feed-in tariff, quota and auction mechanisms to support wind power development. Renewable Energy, 33(8): 1854–1867. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960148107003242 http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2016/04/26218214/independent-power-projects-sub-saharan-africa-lessons-five-key-countries Google Scholar

Eberhard, A. and Kåberger, T. (2016) Renewable energy auctions in South Africa outshine feed‐in tariffs. Energy Science and Engineering. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ese3.118 Google Scholar

Engelken, M., Romer, B. Drescher, M., Welpe, I. M., and Picot, A. (2016). Comparing drivers, barriers, and opportunities of business models for renewable energies. A review. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 60 (2016): 795–809. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2015.12.163 Google Scholar

Garcia, C. (2012). Policies and institutions for grid-connected renewable energy: ‘Best practice’ and the case of China. Governance: An International Journal of Policy, Administration, and Institutions,26(1) (January 2013): 119–146.Google Scholar

Hermann, S., Miketa, A. and Fichaux, N. (2014). Estimating the renewable energy potential in Africa. IRENA-KTH Working Paper. International Renewable Energy Agency, Abu Dhabi.Google Scholar

IEA. (2014). Africa energy outlook: A focus on energy prospects in sub-Saharan Africa. World Energy Outlook Special Report. Paris: International Energy Agency. https://www.iea.org/publications/freepublications/publication/WEO2014_AfricaEnergyOutlook.pdf Google Scholar

Ika, L. (2012). Project management for development in Africa: Why projects are failing and what can be done about it. Project Management Journal, 43(4): 27–41. 10.1002/pmj.21281Google Scholar

Interviews with Authors. (2016). Conducted by members of the research team with stakeholders in Morocco, Mozambique and South Africa. Transcripts available upon request.Google Scholar

IRENA. (2016a). The power to change: Solar and wind cost reduction potential. Abu Dhabi: International Renewable Energy Agency. www.irena.org/DocumentDownloads/Publications/IRENA_Power_to_Change_2016.pdf Google Scholar

IRENA. (2016b) Trends in renewable energy. Renewable Energy Data and Statistics. IRENA. http://resourceirena.irena.org/gateway/dashboard/Google Scholar

IRENA. (2016c). Solar PV in Africa: Costs and markets. Abu Dhabi: International Renewable Energy Agency. www.irena.org/DocumentDownloads/Publications/IRENA_Solar_PV_Costs_Africa2016.pdf Google Scholar

ITRPV. (2016). International technology roadmap for photovoltaic (ITRPV): 2015 results including maturity reports. Frankfurt am Main: ITRPV/VDMA. www.itrpv.net/.cm4all/iproc.php/ITRPV%20Seventh%20Edition%20including%20maturity%20report%2020161026.pdf Google Scholar

Jacobsson, S., and Bergek, A. (2004). Transforming the energy sector: The evolution of technological systems in renewable energy technology. Industrial and Corporate Change, 13(5): 815–849. https://doi.org/10.1093/icc/dth032 Google Scholar

Jacobsson, S., and Johnson, A. (2000). The diffusion of renewable energy technology : an analytical framework and key issues for research. Energy Policy, 28(9): 625–640.Google Scholar

Jenner, S., Groba, F. and Indvik, J. (2013). Assessing the strength and effectiveness of renewable electricity feed-in tariffs in European Union countries. Energy Policy, 52: 385–401. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2012.09.046 Google Scholar

Lacey, S. (2016, 20 September). Jinko and Marubeni Bid 2.4 Cents to Supply Solar in Abu Dhabi. How Low Can Solar Prices Go? Green Tech Media https://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/jinko-solar-and-marubeni-bid-2-4-cents-for-solar-power-plant-in-abu-dhabi/Google Scholar

Lauber, V. and Jacobsson, S. (2016). The politics and economics of constructing, contesting and restricting socio-political space for renewables – The German Renewable Energy Act. Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions, 18: 147–163. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eist.2015.06.005 Google Scholar

Lema, A., and Ruby, K. (2007). Between fragmented authoritarianism and policy coordination: Creating a Chinese market for wind energy. Energy Policy, 35(7): 3879–3890. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2007.01.025 Google Scholar

Markard, J. and Lüthi, C. (2010). Institutional and organizational contexts for sustainable innovation in sanitation. Cities of the Future Conference. Boston: Water Environment Federation, 889–903.Google Scholar

Mohammed, Y. S., Mustafa, M. W. and Bashir, N. (2013). Status of renewable energy consumption and developmental challenges in Sub-Sahara Africa. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 27, 453–463. (http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2013.06.044)Google Scholar

Newsbase. (2016, Oct. 20). Kenya moves to swap FiTs for competitive auctions. REM – Renewable Energy, 42 (531). http://newsbase.com/topstories/kenya-moves-swap-fits-competitive-auctions Google Scholar

North, D. (1992). Transaction costs, institutions, and economic performance. San Francisco, CA: ICS Press.Google Scholar

Reiche, D., and Bechberger, M. (2004). Policy differences in the promotion of renewable energies in the EU member states. Energy Policy, 32. www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301421502003439 Google Scholar

Reichelstein, S., and Yorston, M. (2013). The prospects for cost competitive solar PV power. Energy Policy, 55: 117–127.Google Scholar

Rose, A., Stoner, R., and Pérez-Arriaga, I. Prospects for grid-connected solar PV in Kenya: A systems approach. Applied Energy, 161, 583–590. (http://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2012.11.003)Google Scholar

SE4All (Sustainable Energy for All). (2019). Action agenda. https://www.se4all-africa.org/seforall-in-africa/country-actions/action-agenda/Google Scholar

Smink, M. M., Hekkert, M. P., and Negro, S. O. (2015). Keeping sustainable innovation on a leash? Exploring incumbents’ institutional strategies. Business Strategy and the Environment, 24(2): 86–101. https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.1808 CrossRef Google Scholar

Tsakhara, P. (2015, March 16). Presentation on the Tanzanian solar PV-hybrid workshop held in Berlin, Germany. TANESCO. www.giz.de/fachexpertise/downloads/2015-tanesco-presentation-tansania.pdf Google Scholar

WGIP. (2016). Worldwide Governance Indicators Project. http://info.worldbank.org/governance/wgi/index.aspx#home Google Scholar

World Bank. (2016). Doing business 2016: Measuring regulatory quality and efficiency. Washington, DC:World Bank. DOI:http://10.1596/978-1-4648-0667-4. Licence: Creative Commons Attribution CC BY 3.0 IGO.Google Scholar

Book contents

4 - Institutional Enablers of Energy System Transition: Lessons from Solar Photovoltaic Electricity in Eight African Countries

Summary

Access options

References

Save book to Kindle

Save book to Dropbox

Save book to Google Drive