TIME to Change: Rethinking Humanitarian Energy Access

Robinson, Benjamin; Clifford, Mike; Jewitt, Sarah

Abstract

Achieving Sustainable Development Goal 7-universal access to affordable, reliable and modern energy services by 2030-represents a considerable challenge. Currently, 40% of the global population do not have access to sustainable energy sources, and instead rely on burning biomass to satisfy their energy needs. Despite a long history of energy technology for poverty-alleviation initiatives across the globe, many interventions fail at persuading end-users to continue using these technologies beyond an initial adoption phase. Whilst many champion sustainable energy solutions, most evaluation approaches do not consider long term sustained use. As a result, many end-user-orientated energy solutions, such as Improved Cookstoves (ICS), fall out of use once project partners depart. These failures are often due to emphasis on ever-more-complex technologies rather than social methodologies such as understanding end-user priorities and the complex contextual barriers to sustained use. In this paper, we present a novel interdisciplinary formative and evaluative implementation or delivery model, the qualitative Technology Implementation Model for Energy (TIME), for practitioners and policymakers. TIME focuses on refining three core areas of energy technology implementation; to rethink how impact is defined, to understand differences between practitioner perception and end-user reality, and to champion a co-produced approach with all key stakeholders in the energy system. TIME is the first energy implementation model to blend Social Enterprise, Appropriate Technology, Water, Hygiene and Sanitation behavioural change models as well as International Development planning tools whilst advocating an approach centred around co-production, ownership, use of resources and equality.

Citation

Robinson, B., Clifford, M., & Jewitt, S. (2022). TIME to Change: Rethinking Humanitarian Energy Access. Energy Research and Social Science, 86, Article 102453. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2021.102453

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Dec 3, 2021
• Online Publication Date: Dec 20, 2021
• Publication Date: 2022-04
• Deposit Date: Dec 9, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: Dec 21, 2022
• Journal: Energy Research and Social Science
• Publisher: Elsevier BV
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 86
• Article Number: 102453
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2021.102453
• Keywords: SDG7; Energy Methods; Energy Access; International Development; Energy Policy; Improved Energy Technology
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/6914608
• Publisher URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214629621005405
• Additional Information: This article is maintained by: Elsevier; Article Title: TIME to Change: Rethinking Humanitarian Energy Access; Journal Title: Energy Research & Social Science; CrossRef DOI link to publisher maintained version: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2021.102453