Exploiting renewable energy opportunities through integrated regional power systems: Analysis of institutional perspectives on barriers in Southern Africa

[摘要] ENGLISH SUMMARY: Renewable energy resources are abundant, but the opportunities presented by such sourcesof energy for power generation have not been fully exploited, particularly using an integratedregional approach, due to a myriad of barriers. Although so much research points out andcategorises the barriers to renewable energy development in general, it remains toogeneralised and fails to consider the institutional environments and contextual factors. Usinginstitutional theory and informed by the theory of international trade cooperation in electricity,this study develops a conceptual framework for analysing and understanding the institutionalperspectives that traverse the barriers to exploiting renewable energy opportunities in aregionally coordinated and integrated system. The findings of the study should providestakeholders with insights on and direct more attention at institutional barriers contributing tothe large gap between the current levels of the exploitation of renewable energyopportunities in the SADC region and the potentials that are technically feasible using theavailable renewable energy technologies. An extensive traditional literature analysis foundthat the institutional elements of legitimation, functions, administrative structures, processesand mechanisms, and culture and attitudes in the SADC region were generally inadequatefor up-scaling and sustained development of renewable energy. The findings further indicatethat institutional perspectives or conditions have a significant pervasive bearing onrenewable energy barriers in general and exploiting such energy resources using integratedpower systems and approaches in particular. This study provides strong support foraddressing the institutional barriers and that all stakeholders should rethink the approach toscale-up harnessing of renewable energy by taking into account and paying greater attentionto the institutional and contextual perspectives.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University