Finland Futures Research Centre
Why Renewable Energy Projects Fail or Succeed? Design and Implementation of Energy Assistance Projects in Cambodia and Lao PDR (DREAM) 2009-2012
Energy demand is rapidly growing in many developing countries, and energy is widely recognised as a cross-cutting theme contributing to the achievement of all Millennium Development Goals. The energy decisions made today will have long-ranging consequences, in terms of investment, impact on society and on global climate. Understanding of linkages between energy and the three pillars of sustainable development has increased the bilateral and multilateral donors’ interest in renewable energy. The success of renewable energy projects has been variable. Significant part of the implemented energy systems has not been economically, socially or environmentally sustainable after the project funding and maintenance has ended.
This project aims (i) to develop multi-disciplinary methodology to analyse renewable energy project design, implementation, finance, and their influence on communities; (ii) build up knowledge on the various positive and negative impacts the renewable energy projects have especially at the village level; (iii) improve understanding of qualifications (success factors and reasons for failures) of renewable energy projects; (iv) identify concrete means to increase long term sustainability of donor-driven energy projects.
The research is done by comparative case study analysis of eight donor-driven renewable energy projects implemented in Cambodia and Lao PDR. The research material consists of project documents, interviews, and ethnographic methods used at the case study villages. Integrated impact assessment framework will be used to give emphasis to the cross-sectoral impacts of energy decisions, and long time scale related to the energy systems.
The project improves understanding of reasons why energy projects often fail, and means to develop the planning and implementation of future renewable energy projects. The overall aim is to help the transition towards increasing sustainable use of renewable energy in the developing countries. It also develops a multi-disciplinary methodology needed for assessing the impacts of the projects and designing environmentally benign projects that would generate continued benefits for the communities.
The project is funded by the Academy of Finland.
Project Staff
- Jyrki Luukkanen, Research Professor
- Hanna Kaisti, Project Manager
- Mira Käkönen, Researcher
Contact the research team members by email: firstname.lastname@tse.fi
FINLAND FUTURES RESEARCH CENTRE