Does solar energy reduce poverty or increase energy security? A comparative analysis of sustainability impacts of on-grid power plants in Burkina Faso, Madagascar, Morocco, Rwanda, Senegal and South Africa. (May 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Brunet, Carole; Savadogo, Oumarou; Baptiste, Pierre; Bouchard, Michel A.; Cholez, Céline; Rosei, Federico; Gendron, Corinne; Sinclair-Desgagné, Bernard; Merveille, Nicolas
• Is Part Of: Energy research & social science. Volume 87(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-05
• Subjects: AFDB African Development Bank -- CSR Corporate Social Responsibility -- CSP Concentrated Solar Power -- ECOSOC United Nations Economic and Social Council -- EPC Engineering, Procurement and Construction -- ESIA Environmental and Social Impact Assessments -- ESMP Environmental and Social Management Plan -- EU European Union -- FIT Feed-in tariff -- GDP Gross Domestic Product -- GHG greenhouse gas -- GNI Gross National Income -- GW Gigawatt -- HDI Human Development Index -- IFC International Finance Corporation -- IFDD Institut de la Francophonie pour le Développement Durable -- IPCC Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change -- IPP Independent Power Producer -- IRENA International Renewable Energy Agency -- kWh Kilowatt-Hour -- LCOE Levelized cost of electricity -- MENA Middle East and North Africa -- MoU Memorandum of Understanding -- MWp Megawatt-peak -- NGO Non-governmental Organization -- O&M Operations and Maintenance -- PPA Power Purchase Agreement -- PV Photovoltaic -- REIPPP Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement -- REs Renewable energies -- REN 21 Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century -- RISE Regulatory Indicators for Sustainable Energy -- RSA Republic of South Africa -- SCADA Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition -- SD Sustainable Development -- SDG Sustainable Development Goal -- UN United Nations -- W Watt; Renewable energy -- Solar plant -- Sustainability -- Developing country -- Energy transition -- Poverty -- SDG; Power resources -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Energy consumption -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; 333.7905
• DOI: 10.1016/j.erss.2021.102212
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2214-6296

Abstract

Abstract : See example https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022314X09002509?via%3Dihub Abstract: The United Nations has identified 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that need to be addressed to ensure a peaceful and sustainable existence for all living species on planet earth. To a large extent, the SDGs are interconnected, so that addressing one can simultaneously influence another; here, we explore the role of photovoltaic energy technology in combating climate change and its potential advantages in alleviating poverty in six African countries. In this context, photovoltaic solar power plants which produce "green" electrical power from solar radiation may contribute to the achievement of several of these goals. This article analyzes the extent to which the operation of on-grid solar power plants found in Burkina Faso, Madagascar, Morocco, Rwanda, Senegal, and South Africa is a vector for sustainable development. Our results give us the opportunity to identify the role of governments in enhancing solar PV sustainability for poverty alleviation. Our methodology is both qualitative and quantitative. We pursued six case studies, performed a thorough grid analysis (seven categories of impacts analyzed at local, regional, national, and international levels), and defined a sustainability index specific to solar power plants. According to the sustainability model derived from our results based on contextual and structural variables, we found that, unless appropriate adjustments are made, grid-connected photovoltaic solar power plants have a limited impact on sustainable development and poverty abatement, especially at the local level. Video: For a video summary of this paper, please visit: https://www.polymtl.ca/magi/en/research-presentation-carole-brunet-phd .