Adoption of Renewable Energy Innovations in Rural Tanzania: An Innovation Systems Approach
Abstract
Renewable energy innovations have in recent years attracted attention due to their potential as alternative sources of energy in rural areas. The current debate in sub-Saharan Africa not only focuses on the possibilities and limitations of renewable energy innovations to reach the poor, but it also centres on the contribution of these innovations in achieving sustainable development goals. In the current paper, I examine the role of intermediary organisations in the transfer and adoption of renewable energy innovations in rural areas. I employ an exploratory case-study approach to collect data from 15 intermediary organisations in Tanzania. Using an innovation systems approach, I argue that intermediary organisations may often be in a position to coordinate activities and create an enabling environment for transfer and adoption of renewable energy innovations. A more active involvement of intermediary organisations could transcend social and cultural barriers as well as transform attitudes of other actors towards renewable energy innovations. However, the extent to which renewable energy innovations can successfully be adopted in rural areas, and thereby contribute to rural development, would largely depend on whether all actors are also fully involved in the innovation process. While attempts to integrate an innovation systems approach into research and development in sub-Saharan Africa have consistently focused on agricultural innovations, renewable energy innovations remain under-researched.
Keywords: innovation systems, renewable energy innovations, intermediary organisations
References
Alkemade, F., Kleinschmidt, C., Hekkert, M., 2007. Analysing emerging innovation systems: a functions approach to foresight. International Journal of Foresight and Innovation Policy, 3 (2):139-168
Anandajayasekeram, P., 2011. The Role of Agricultural R&D within the Agricultural Innovation Systems Framework. Conference Working Paper 6, ASTI/IFPRI-FARA Conference, Accra, Ghana 5-7 December, 2011
Baker, S., 2006. Sustainable Development. Routledge 2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN
Bastos, C.A., Rebois, R.R., 2011. Review and Evaluation of the Performance of Tanzania ' s Higher Education Institutions in Science, Technology and Innovation. Final Report: UNESCO
Bergek, A., Jacobsson, S., Carlsson, B., Lindmark, S., Rickne, A., 2008. Analyzing the functional dynamics of technological innovation systems: A scheme of analysis. Research Policy, 37 (3), 407-429
Carlsson, B., Stankiewicz, R., 1991. On the nature, function and composition of technological systems. Journal of Evolutionary Economics, 1 (2): 93-118
Carter, N., 2001. "The Politics of the Environment €“ Ideas, Activism, Policy". Cambridge University Press, Cambridge
Dauda, M., 2012. Renewable energy in Rural areas: the best path to sustainable development? A case Study in Rural Tanzania €“ PhD thesis, University of Kent, UK
Dosi, G., Orsenigo, L., 1988. Coordination and transformation: an overview of structures, behaviours and change in evolutionary environments. In Dosi, G. et al. 1988 (eds). Technical Change and Economic Theory. London: Pinter Publishers.
Edquist, C., Chaminade, C., 2006. Industrial Policy from a System of Innovation Perspective; in European Investment Bank (EIB) Papers, Vol. 11, No. 1, pp. 108-133.
Edquist, C., 2001. The Systems of Innovation Approach and Innovation Policy: An account of the state of the art. Lead paper presented at the DRUID ' s Nelson and Winter Conference, Aalborg; June 12-15
Elliott, D., 2003. Energy, Society and Environment. 2nd edition, Routledge
Foxon, T. J., 2002. Technological and institutional ' lock-in ' as a barrier to sustainable innovation. Imperial College Centre for Energy Policy and Technology (ICCEPT), London, UK
Giddens, A., 2009. Sociology: 6th edition, Cambridge: Polity Press
Gjoksi, N., 2011. "Innovation and sustainable development: Linkages and perspectives for policies in Europe" ESDN Quarterly Report June 2011
Hall, A., Clark, N., 2010. What Do Complex Adaptive Systems Look Like and What Are the Implications for Innovation Policy? Journal of International Development, Vol.22, Issue 3, p 308-324
Hall, A., Clark, N., Naik, G., 2007. Technology supply chain or innovation capacity? Contrasting experiences of promoting small scale irrigation technology in South Asia. UNU-MERIT Working paper series. United Nations University- Maastricht Economic and social Research and training centre on Innovation and Technology: Maastricht, The Netherlands
Hall, A., 2006. "Public-Private Sector Partnerships in a System of Agricultural Innovation: Concepts and Challenges". UNU-MERIT Working paper series. United Nations University- Maastricht Economic and social Research and training centre on Innovation and Technology: Maastricht, The Netherlands
Hall, A., 2005. "Capacity development for agricultural biotechnology in developing countries: an innovation systems view of what it is and how to develop it". Journal of International Development, Vol. 17, No.5, pp. 611-630
Hall, A. J., Yoganand B., Sulaiman R.V., Raina, R. S., Prasad, S.C., Naik, G. C., Clark, N.G., 2004 (eds.). Innovations in innovation: reflections on partnership, institutions and learning. Crop Post-Harvest Programme (CPHP), South Asia, International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), and National Centre for Agricultural Economics and Policy Research (NCAP), India
Harper, C.L., 2016. Environment and Society. Human perspectives on Environmental Issues. Fifth Edition, Routledge
Harper, C.L., 2008. Environment and Society. Human perspectives on Environmental Issues. Fourth Edition Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, New Jersey
Hekkert, M., Negro, S., Heimeriks, G., Harmsen, R., 2011. Technological Innovation System Analysis. A Manual for Analysts. Utrecht University
Hekkert, M. P., Suurs, R. A. A., Negro, S. O., Kuhlmann, S., Smits, R. E. H. M., 2007. Functions of innovation systems: a new approach for analysing technological change. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 74(4): 413-432.
Howells, J., 2006. Intermediation and the role of intermediaries in innovation. Research Policy, 35(5), 715-728.
IEA, 2017. Energy Efficiency 2017. OECD/International Energy Agency
IEA, 2002. Renewable Energy €¦ into the Mainstream €¦IEA Renewable Energy Working Party 2002. International Energy Agency/Novem, The Netherlands
IPCC, 2001. Climate Change 2001. The Scientific Basis. Third Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.
Jacobsson, S., Bergek, A., 2004. Transforming the energy sector: the evolution of technological systems in renewable energy technology. Industrial and Corporate Change 13(5), 815-849.
Johnson, A., 2001. Functions in Innovation System Approaches: Paper presented at the DRUID ' s Nelson and Winter Conference, Aalborg; June 12-15
Katunzi, A., Siebert M., 2015 (eds). Tanzania Oil and Gas Almanac. The Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Tanzania and OpenOil
Kimambo, C.Z.M., Mwakabuta, N., 2005. Transformation of Rural PV Market in Tanzania. Consultancy report on study of pricing structure of energy services and products. Ministry of Energy and Minerals and United Nations Development Programme
Klerkx, L., Gildemacher, P., 2012. The role of innovation brokers in agricultural innovation systems. In: World Bank (2012), Agricultural Innovation Systems: An Investment Sourcebook, pp. 221-230. World Bank, Washington DC
Klerkx, L., Hall, A., Leeuwis, C., 2009. Strengthening Agricultural Innovation Capacity: Are innovation brokers the answer? International Journal of Agricultural Resources, Governance, and Ecology, Vol. 8(5/6), 409-438
Klerkx, L., Leeuwis, C., 2008. Establishing and embedding of innovation brokers at different innovation system levels: Insights from Dutch agricultural sector. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Vol. 76 (6), 849-860
Leoncini, R., 1998. The nature of long-run technological change: innovation, evolution and technological systems. Research Policy 27, pp. 75 €“93
Markard, J., Truffer, B., 2008. Technological innovation systems and the multi-level perspective: Towards an integrated framework. Research Policy, 37 (4): 596-615
Martinussen, J., 2004. Society, State & Market. A guide to competing theories of development. Zed Books Ltd LONDON & NEW YORK
MCST, 2010. The National Research and Development Policy. Ministry of Communication, Science and Technology. The United Republic of Tanzania.
Metz, B., Davidson, O.R., Martens, J.-W., van Rooijen, S.N.M., McGrory, L.v.W., 2000 (eds). Methodological and Technological Issues in Technology Transfer. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
Miller, G.T., 2004. Living in the Environment, 13th edition. London: Thomson Learning
Min, T.L., 2017; Christian, W., 2017. Handbook of the Management of Creativity and Innovation: Theory and Practice. World Scientific Publishing Company
Ministry of Energy and Minerals, 2015. National Energy Policy 2015.
Ministry of Energy and Minerals, 2015. National Energy Policy 2015. The United Republic of Tanzania.
Ministry of Energy and Minerals, 2003. National Energy Policy 2003. The United Republic of Tanzania.
Negro, S.O, 2007. Dynamics of Technological Innovation Systems: The Case of Biomass Energy. PhD thesis. Utrecht University - Copernicus Institute for Sustainable Development and Innovation, Utrecht. The Netherlands
OECD-FAO, 2012. Sustainable Agricultural Productivity Growth and Bridging the Gap for Small-Family Farms. Interagency Report to the Mexican G20 Presidency. OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook
Pant, L.P., Hambly-Odame, H., 2009. Innovation Systems in Renewable Natural Resource Management and Sustainable Agriculture: a literature review. African Journal of Science, Technology, Innovation and Development 1, 103-135
Piirainen, K.A., Koria, M., Ngoc, C.T., Wangwe, S., Wennberg, M., Lemola, T., Hänninen, H., Junttila, P., Pyrhönen, E., Salmenhaara, K., 2012. An analysis of the drivers for emerging sectoral innovation systems in developing economies: Cases Tanzania and Vietnam (ESIS). ESIS Final Report, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland.
Reed, D. 1996. Structural Adjustment, the Environment, and Sustainable Development. London: Earthscan.
Rogers, M. E., 2003. Diffusion of Innovations 5th Edition. New York, USA: The Free Press
Rogers, P.P., Jalal, K.F., Boyd J.A., 2008. An Introduction to Sustainable Development: Earthscan, London.
Sosa-Nunez, G., Atkins, E., 2016 (eds). Environment, Climate Change and International Relations. E-International Relations Publishing. Creative Commons CC BY-NC-4.0 license
Sharma, D.C., 2006. Transforming rural lives through decentralized green power. Futures 39 (2007) 583 €“596
Smith, J., 2009. Science and Technology for Development. Zed Books, London & New York
Spielman, D.J., Kelemework, D., 2009. Measuring Agricultural Innovation System Properties and Performance: Illustrations from Ethiopia and Vietnam. IFPRI Discussion Paper 00851, International Food Policy Research Institute, Washington
Speilman, D.J., Davis, K., Zerfu, E., Ekboir, J., Ochieng, C.M.O., 2012. An Innovation Systems perspective on Tertiary-Level Agricultural Education in Sub-Saharan Africa: Evidence from Ethiopia. Ethiop. J. Educ. & Sc., Volume 7 (2), 15-32
Szogs, A., Chaminade, C., Azatyan, R., 2008. Building absorptive capacity in less developed countries: The case of Tanzania. CIRCLE: Paper no. 2008/05, Lund University
Uitto, J.I., Puri, J., van den Berg, R.D., 2017 (eds). Evaluating Climate Change Action for Sustainable Development. SpringerOpen
URT, 2017. Energy access situation Report, 2016. Tanzania Mainland. National Bureau of Statistics and Rural Energy Agency. The United Republic of Tanzania
WCD, 2000. Dams and Development: A new Framework for Decision-Making. The Report of the World Commission on Dams - November, 2000. Earthscan Publications Ltd, London and Sterling, VA
WDR, 1992. World Development Report 1992: Development and the Environment. The World Bank, Oxford University Press, New York
World Bank, 2012. Agricultural Innovation Systems: An Investment Sourcebook. The World Bank, Washington, DC
World Bank, 2009. Gender in Agriculture Sourcebook. The World Bank, Washington, DC
World Bank, 2006. Enhancing Agricultural Innovation: How to Go Beyond the Strengthening of Research Systems. The World Bank, Washington, DC
York, R., Rosa, E.A., Dietz, T., 2009. A Tale of Contrasting Trends: Three Measures of the Ecological Footprint in China, India, Japan, and the United States, 1961-2003. Journal of World-Systems Research, American Sociological Association, XV (2): 134-146
York, R., 2006. Ecological Paradoxes: William Stanley Jevons and the Paperless Office. Human Ecology Review 13(2): 143-147