scholarly journals Socio-Economic Factors of Small Hydropower and Biogas Plants and their Implications for Rural Energy Poverty Alleviation in Kirinyaga, Kenya

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 101-114
Author(s):  
Christine W. Njiru ◽  
Sammy C. Letema ◽  
Simon. M. Maingi
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Land Tenure ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Economic Factors ◽  
Small Hydropower ◽  
Energy Poverty ◽  
Rural Energy ◽  
Renewable Energy Technologies ◽  
Energy Technologies ◽  
Socio Economic Factors

Energy is essential for sustainable development and for improving the socio-economic welfare of a community. Sub-Saharan Africa suffers from severe rural energy poverty and minimal access to modern energy services. Adoption of renewable energy technologies is often viewed as a way to alleviate rural energy poverty, but uptake is slow. Socio-economic factors, mainly household income, electricity access, fuels used for cooking, and land tenure, influence adoption of renewable energy technologies. This paper assesses the contribution of small hydropower and biogas technologies in alleviating rural energy poverty in Kirinyaga County, Kenya, where the majority of the population relies on traditional sources of energy. A case study research design was used, with a sample size of 178. Data was collected using a questionnaire survey, the review of project documents, and interviews. Five indicators were used to assess energy poverty. The results indicate medium to low energy poverty and energy stacking; with reliance on traditional sources of energy. Socio-economic factors influence adoption of SHP and biogas. Therefore, adoption of renewable energy technologies does not alleviate rural energy poverty because SHP and biogas are used to supplement rather than replace the use of traditional fuels.

scholarly journals Attitudes of Communities in Rural Areas towards the Development of Wind Energy

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (23) ◽  
pp. 8052
Author(s):  
Mirosława Witkowska-Dabrowska ◽  
Natalia Świdyńska ◽  
Agnieszka Napiórkowska-Baryła
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Wind Energy ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Public Attitudes ◽  
Development Projects ◽  
Economic Factors ◽  
Socioeconomic Conditions ◽  
Renewable Energy Technologies ◽  
Energy Technologies ◽  
Structure Indices

The objective of the study was to demonstrate attitudes towards wind energy facilities in the area of the Korsze Commune. The results of the study were processed using structure indices calculated from the respondents’ answers, which were analyzed in terms of social and economic factors. The study revealed that both the NIMBY syndrome and the lack of civic engagement influence attitudes towards renewable energy technologies in rural areas. The NIMBY (“not in my backyard”) term describes negative public attitudes towards proposed development projects. However, some trends towards more pronounced attitudes can be observed, depending on socioeconomic conditions. The research results imply that the measures taken to promote renewable energy technologies should be designed differently depending on the socioeconomic situation of the targeted audience. Young people might be reached via social media appropriate to their age, and through campaigns promoting local investments. For older people, traditional ways of communication can be used, but the information transmitted should include specific benefits for the whole society as well as for individual households. The conducted research revealed that, despite the fact that many authors deny the occurrence of NIMBY syndrome in relation to the wind energy, the NIMBY problem has occurred in the Korsze Commune. The biggest challenge in the survey was the unwillingness of the residents to participate in it, which only confirms the lack of social involvement.

Considerations for a sustainable hybrid mini-grid system: A case for Wanale village, Uganda

2014 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raymond Kimera ◽  
Richard Okou ◽  
Adoniya Ben Sebitosi ◽  
Kehinde O. Awodele
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Grid System ◽  
Renewable Energy Resources ◽  
Renewable Energy Technologies ◽  
Energy Technologies ◽  
Number Of Factors ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Energy Utilities

The extension of modern energy services to rural sub-Saharan Africa has continuously provided a challenge to energy utilities. The continued reliance on diesel generators for rural electrification is increasingly becoming unsustainable, due to a number of factors, among which includes their high fuel dependency, and the uncertainty surrounding the price and availability of fossil fuels. While the influx of renewable energy technologies has provided a means for providing off-grid electrification services, the intermittent nature of renewable resources poses a challenge, as energy generation does not always coincide with usage. Through a combination of renewable energy technologies, energy storage, and conventional diesel generation, a hybrid mini-grid system is able to achieve synergy in operation, hence providing a reliable means of extending electricity services to rural consumers. In this paper, a hybrid mini-grid system is proposed for the supply of electricity to a remote village in Uganda. Renewable energy resources are identified, an estimation of the projected village short-term electricity demand is modelled, and using HOMER software, a hybrid mini-grid system is designed, components sized, and the system optimized for efficient and reliable operation to meet the village demand at an affordable cost. A well designed and operated hybrid mini-grid system offers a viable tool for the electrification of even the remotest of areas.

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