Browsing by Author "Sichone, Elijah Chizamusoka"

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    Exploiting renewable energy opportunities through integrated regional power systems: Analysis of institutional perspectives on barriers in Southern Africa
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2018-03) Sichone, Elijah Chizamusoka; Brent, Alan C.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. School of Public Leadership.
    ENGLISH SUMMARY: Renewable energy resources are abundant, but the opportunities presented by such sources of energy for power generation have not been fully exploited, particularly using an integrated regional approach, due to a myriad of barriers. Although so much research points out and categorises the barriers to renewable energy development in general, it remains too generalised and fails to consider the institutional environments and contextual factors. Using institutional theory and informed by the theory of international trade cooperation in electricity, this study develops a conceptual framework for analysing and understanding the institutional perspectives that traverse the barriers to exploiting renewable energy opportunities in a regionally coordinated and integrated system. The findings of the study should provide stakeholders with insights on and direct more attention at institutional barriers contributing to the large gap between the current levels of the exploitation of renewable energy opportunities in the SADC region and the potentials that are technically feasible using the available renewable energy technologies. An extensive traditional literature analysis found that the institutional elements of legitimation, functions, administrative structures, processes and mechanisms, and culture and attitudes in the SADC region were generally inadequate for up-scaling and sustained development of renewable energy. The findings further indicate that institutional perspectives or conditions have a significant pervasive bearing on renewable energy barriers in general and exploiting such energy resources using integrated power systems and approaches in particular. This study provides strong support for addressing the institutional barriers and that all stakeholders should rethink the approach to scale-up harnessing of renewable energy by taking into account and paying greater attention to the institutional and contextual perspectives.