The state of the art of gendered energy innovations : a structured literature review

Date
2020-11-11
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Southern African Institute for Industrial Engineering
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The impact of restricted access to sustainable energy is the worst in vulnerable urban poor areas, and so an alternative approach to energy innovations is needed. To explore the possibilities for energy innovations, gender needs to be taken into account. This is especially relevant in the sub-Saharan African context, as most households are female-headed. This paper aims to explore the current state of gendered energy innovations by using a multivocal approach; it thus focuses on the existing body of knowledge at the gender—energy interface. The study is conducted in two parts: first, ‘state of the art’ is conceptualised using a multilevel approach; second, a structured literature review on gendered energy innovations is conducted in light of the structured understanding of ‘state of the art’. There is definitely room for new innovations to use gender as a strategy for solving energy security problems in urban poor environments.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die impak van beperkte toegang tot volhoubare energiebronne is ergste in kwesbare arm stedelike gebiede, en gevolglik is ‘n alternatiewe aanslag tot energie-innovasie, nodig. Om die moontlikhede vir energie-innovasies te ondersoek, moet geslag in ag geneem word. Dit is veral relevant in sub-Sahara Afrika aangesien die meeste huishoudings in hierdie konteks ʼn vrou as hoof het. Hierdie artikel ondersoek die huidige toestand van geslag ten opsigte van energie-innovasies deur middel van ʼn veelduidige benadering. Dit fokus dus op die bestaande navorsing in die veld waar geslag en energie raakpunte het. Die studie is tweeledig: eerstens, word die konsep, ‘state of the art’, deur middel van ‘n multivlak-benadering gedefinieer; tweedens word ‘n gestruktureerde literatuurstudie rakende geslag in die konteks van energie-innovasies gedoen aan die hand van ʼn gestruktureerde verstaan van ‘state of the art’. Daar is beslis potensiaal vir nuwe energie-innovasies, wat geslag as ʼn oplossingstrategie gebruik om probleme rakende energie sekuriteit in arm stedelike gebiede op te los.
Description
CITATION: Van der Merwe, S., De Kock, I. & Musango, J. K. 2020. The state of the art of gendered energy innovations : a structured literature review. South African Journal of Industrial Engineering, 31(3):144-155, doi:10.7166/31-3-2427.
The original publication is available at http://sajie.journals.ac.za
Keywords
Energy security, Renewable energy sources, Urban poor -- Developing countries, Innovations, Power resources
Citation
Van der Merwe, S., De Kock, I. & Musango, J. K. 2020. The state of the art of gendered energy innovations : a structured literature review. South African Journal of Industrial Engineering, 31(3):144-155, doi:10.7166/31-3-2427