Renewable Energies and the Poor: Niche or Nexus?
Article from: OGEL 2 (2004), in Renewable Energy
Abstract
Renewable energies are considered as an essential element of any strategy for sustainable energy development. The poor in the developing world, without access to modern energies, are regarded as a major market for renewable energies. This short article attempts to analyse whether such a niche is backed by economic logic and whether renewable energy and the poor nexus could be a strategy for success. The article suggests that contrary to common belief, the economic logic behind the niche is unsound and the nexus is not a recipe for success.