A New Decision Support Method for Local Energy Planning in Developing Countries.

Abstract

Abstract: Energy is required for almost any economic activity. Therefore, regions in developing countries that show rapid economic growth experience a substantial increase in energy demand, creating the need for new energy infrastructure. Energy planning is used to match future energy supply with demand. However, the current (centralized) approach to energy planning is not fit for rapidly developing regions; there is a lack of proper instruments to support the local planning process. This thesis describes the development and first application of a new method that supports energy planners in selecting local energy infrastructure for rapidly developing regions in developing countries. Ultimately, it helps the energy planners to steer the development of the local energy infrastructure into a desirable direction. The method has a multidisciplinary eclectic approach that is referred to as the triple-i approach: it is informative, interactive, and iterative. Field studies in Noord Brabant (the Netherlands) and Huetar Norte (Costa Rica) are used to further develop the method and test its underlying assumptions.