Kruckenberg, LJ (2015) Renewable energy partnerships in development cooperation: Towards a relational understanding of technical assistance. Energy Policy, 77. 11 - 20. ISSN 0301-4215
Abstract
Recent decades have witnessed a surge in international programmes established to assist the adoption of renewable energy technologies (RETs) in low and lower-middle income countries. So far, such programmes have yielded mixed success. While partnerships between international, national and local organisations have become the pre-eminent model for RET programmes, we know relatively little about their contribution. This article traces the role of renewable energy partnerships in development cooperation, shifting the analytical emphasis from barriers and drivers to key actors and their relationships. It presents a relational approach for the analysis of development assistance for renewable energy, drawing on theories concerning the role of strong and weak ties in inter-organisational networks. Through an analysis of seven empirical cases from Central America, the article provides insights into how different forms of inter-organisational relationships can facilitate implementation of RET programmes but do not necessarily enhance the capacities of local organisations in a way to support a more sustainable adoption of RETs. On the basis of this analysis, theoretical and policy implications are given concerning the potential of relational approaches for researching technology diffusion processes, and the role of strong and weak ties for the success - or failure - of renewable energy partnerships.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | (c) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. NOTICE: this is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Energy Policy. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Energy Policy, 77, (2015) DOI 10.1016/j.enpol.2014.11.004 |
Keywords: | Cross-sector partnerships; Development cooperation; Renewable energy technologies; Sustainable development; Technology transfer; Theory of strong and weak ties |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Education, Social Sciences and Law (Leeds) > School of Law (Leeds) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 19 Mar 2015 15:58 |
Last Modified: | 11 Apr 2017 05:39 |
Published Version: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2014.11.004 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Elsevier |
Identification Number: | 10.1016/j.enpol.2014.11.004 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:83592 |