Failures & generic recommendations towards the sustainable management of renewable energy projects in Sub-Saharan Africa (Part 2 of 2)

Renewable energy (RE) generation is expected to become the main source of energy in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) over the next century. However, more often than not, the sustainability aspect of these projects is a characteristic that is not clearly defined in terms of projects implemented in SSA. The rate at which projects fail is creating a negative impact towards the full acceptance of renewable energy technologies (RETs). The aim of this paper is to comprehensively explore the reasons of failures and provide recommendations towards the sustainable management of RE projects in SSA. We accomplish this by combining findings from past literature on the failures of RE projects in SSA with an ethnographic approach and practical experience in the implementation of RE projects in Sub-Saharan Africa. We propose the following solutions: (i) transparency, (ii) ownership, (iii) shared responsibility and (iv) community involvement. We further present hermeneutic recommendations that should be taken into account by stakeholders towards implementation of any sustainable renewable energy project

The empirical reality & sustainable management failures of renewable energy projects in Sub-Saharan Africa (part 1 of 2)

The future of electrification of Africa lies within off-grid generation via renewable energy (RE). Although many RE projects have started across the Sub-Sahara, especially public projects are seldom successful. This study engages directly (ethnographically) with the local communities benefitting or expected to benefit from the projects, the implementing organizations and government. Despite the differences in culture and understanding, the reasons for failure of the projects are found to be similar across the different countries: (i) political agenda, (ii) process of awarding projects, (iii) stakeholder co-operation, (iv) planning & implementation, (v) maintenance and (vi) public acceptance & inclusion