Energy Services in the Domestic Sector as a Result of the Liberalised Market

This chapter examines the proper role of intellectual property rights (IPRs) in achieving access to modern energy services in Africa as part of a broader objective of a pro-development intellectual property agenda for African countries. It discusses the role of intellectual property rights, particularly patents, in consonance with pertinent development questions in Africa connected with the implementation of intellectual property standards, which do not wholly assume that innovation in Africa is dependent on strong intellectual property systems. The chapter examines how existing intellectual property legal landscapes in Africa enhance or impede access to modern energy, and how the law can be directed towards improved energy access in African countries. While suggesting that IPRs could serve an important role in achieving modern energy access, the chapter calls for circumspection in applying IP laws in order not to inhibit access to useful technologies for achieving access to modern energy services.

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A Capabilities-Led Approach to Assessing Technological Solutions for a Rural Community

Energies ◽

10.3390/en14051398 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (5) ◽

pp. 1398

Author(s):

Xinfang Wang ◽

Rosie Day ◽

Dan Murrant ◽

Antonio Diego Marín ◽

David Castrejón Botello ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Rural Community ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Assessment Method ◽

Unintended Consequences ◽

Energy Services ◽

Grid Systems ◽

Technological Interventions ◽

Solution Design ◽

Improve Access

To improve access to affordable, reliable and sustainable energy in rural areas of the global south, off-grid systems using renewable generation and energy storage are often proposed. However, solution design is often technology-driven, with insufficient consideration of social and cultural contexts. This leads to a risk of unintended consequences and inappropriate systems that do not meet local needs. To address this problem, this paper describes the application of a capabilities-led approach to understanding a community’s multi-dimensional energy poverty and assessing their needs as they see them, in order to better design suitable technological interventions. Data were collected in Tlamacazapa, Mexico, through site visits and focus groups with men and women. These revealed the ways in which constrained energy services undermined essential capabilities, including relating to health, safety, relationships and earning a living, and highlighted the specific ways in which improved energy services, such as lighting, cooking and mechanical power could improve capabilities in the specific context of Tlamacazapa. Based on these findings, we propose some potential technological interventions to address these needs. The case study offers an illustration of an assessment method that could be deployed in a variety of contexts to inform the design of appropriate technological interventions.

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Beware the value gap: Creating value for users and for the system through innovation in digital energy services business models

Technological Forecasting and Social Change ◽

10.1016/j.techfore.2020.120525 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 166 ◽

pp. 120525

Author(s):

Ralitsa Hiteva ◽

Timothy J. Foxon

Keyword(s):

Business Models ◽

Energy Services

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