This book explores the perplexing question of how to increase sustainable energy technology use in the developing world, and specifically focuses on two megacities within Latin America.
Renewable Energy Uptake in Urban Latin America examines the market and uptake of two sustainable energy technologies (solar water heaters and biogas to produce electricity) in two locations, Mexico City, Mexico and São Paulo, Brazil in the 2000s. Drawing from three systems-based analytical frameworks – including one developed by the author for the purpose of this study – the book examines the varying factors affecting the implementation of renewable energy technologies (RETs) in urban Latin America. These frameworks emphasize the importance of examining socio-political dimensions; rather than conventional explanations that focus on technical and economic aspects only. By doing so, the research improves explanations about renewable energy technology (RET) adoption in the global South. These findings are useful for scholars, policy makers and practitioners working on RET adoption; resulting in a book which helps to inform wider debates regarding innovation, decarbonization, sustainability transitions and energy system change.
This book will be of great interest to students and scholars of energy transitions, energy policy, development studies and science and technology studies.
Author(s): Alexandra Mallett
Series: Routledge Explorations in Energy Studies
Publisher: Routledge
Year: 2020
Language: English
Pages: 248
City: Abingdon
Cover
Half Title
Series Page
Title Page
Copyright Page
Table of Contents
List of Figures
List of Tables
Acknowledgements
List of Abbreviations
Chapter 1: The urban developing world and energy system change: More than equipment, skills and money
1.1 The renewable energy challenge for growing cities
1.2 Scope and approach
1.3 Renewable energy experiences in urban Latin America – experiences from megacities
1.4 Mexico City and São Paulo
1.5 Typical explanations for renewable energy technology adoption (or a lack thereof) in the global South
Financial and economic barriers
Technical barriers
Knowledge barriers
Institutional and legal barriers
1.6 Further insights about renewable energy adoption in urban Latin America
1.7 Methods – data collection and analysis
1.8 Conclusion
Notes
References
Chapter 2: Assessing RET uptake through systems-based approaches
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Alternative technology adoption approaches – systemic frameworks
2.2.1 Societal transformations/ transitions (includes multilevel perspective, strategic niche management, transitions management, sustainability transitions)
2.2.2 Energy and political economy and social justice approaches
2.2.3 Multicriteria analysis
2.2.4 Renewable energy adoption through diffusion of innovation, urban technology cooperation and trade and competitiveness regimes
2.3 Rogers’ diffusion of innovations
2.4 From technology transfer to technology cooperation
2.4.1 Historical and contemporary approaches to technology transfer – the practice and theory
2.4.2 Contemporary thinking around renewable energy technology transfer
2.4.3 Innovation systems: linking technology use to innovation
2.5 Urban technology cooperation
2.6 Trade and competitiveness regimes and RET adoption – key debates
2.6.1 Defining trade and competitiveness policies
2.6.2 Inward-looking trade and competitiveness policies
2.6.3 Outward-looking trade and competitiveness policies
2.6.4 Conditionally outward-looking trade and so that competitiveness is all on one line
2.6.5 Trade and competitiveness policies and the uptake of low-carbon energy technologies
2.6.6 Trade and competitiveness approaches in Latin America
2.7 Conclusion
Notes
References
Chapter 3: Energy system change in urban Latin America: Solar water heaters and biogas for electricity generation in Mexico City
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Mexico City – context
3.3 Solar water heater use in Mexico and Mexico City – the hardware
3.3.1 Mexican SWH industry
3.3.2 SWH equipment use in Mexico
3.3.3 SWH market in Mexico
3.3.4 Types of SWHs in Mexico
3.3.5 SWH equipment use in Mexico City
3.3.6 SWH market growth in Mexico City
3.4 SWH use in Mexico and Mexico City – the software
3.4.1 Organizations working on SWHs in Mexico City
3.5 Biogas use to produce electricity in Mexico and Mexico City – the hardware
3.5.1 Biogas equipment use in Mexico
3.5.2 Biogas equipment use in Mexico City
3.6 Biogas use to produce electricity in Mexico and Mexico City – the software
3.6.1 Organizations working on biogas to generate electricity in Mexico City
3.7 Factors affecting SWH use in Mexico City
3.8 Factors affecting the use of biogas to produce electricity in Mexico City
3.9 Conclusion
Notes
References
Chapter 4: Energy system change in urban Latin America: Solar water heaters and biogas for electricity generation in São Paulo
4.1 Introduction
4.2 São Paulo and Brazil – context
4.3 Solar water heater use in Brazil and São Paulo in the 2000s – the hardware
4.3.1 Brazilian SWH industry
4.3.2 SWH equipment use in Brazil
4.3.3 Brazilian SWH market
4.3.4 Types of SWHs in Brazil
4.3.5 SWH equipment use in São Paulo
4.4 SWH use in Brazil and São Paulo in the 2000s – the software
4.4.1 Organizations working on SWHs in São Paulo
4.5 Using biogas to produce electricity in Brazil and São Paulo – the hardware
4.5.1 Biogas to produce electricity equipment use in Brazil
4.5.2 Biogas to produce electricity equipment use in São Paulo
4.6 Using biogas to produce electricity in Brazil and São Paulo – the software
4.6.1 Organizations working on biogas to generate electricity in São Paulo
4.7 Factors affecting SWH use in São Paulo
4.8 Factors affecting the use of biogas to produce electricity in São Paulo
4.9 Conclusion
Notes
References
Chapter 5: What’s shaping our views about technologies? The role of previous experiences
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Rogers’ diffusion of innovations framework
5.3 Applying Rogers to SWH and biogas technology to generate electricity adoption in Mexico City and São Paulo
5.3.1 Knowledge of solar water heaters and biogas technologies
5.3.2 SWHs in Mexico City and São Paulo
5.3.3 Biogas to produce electricity in Mexico City and São Paulo
5.4 Relative advantage – cost
5.4.1 Cost of SWHs in Mexico City and São Paulo
5.4.2 Cost of SWHs in Mexico City and São Paulo vis-à-vis alternatives
5.4.3 Cost of biogas for electricity generation in Mexico City and São Paulo
5.4.4 Cost of biogas for electricity generation in Mexico City and São Paulo vis- à-visalternatives
5.5 Conclusion and policy implications
Notes
References
Chapter 6: Urban technology cooperation: An alternative explanation for RET adoption in Latin American cities
6.1 Introduction
6.2 The urban technology cooperation approach – a recap
6.3 Applying the urban technology cooperation approach to explain RET adoption in Mexico City and São Paulo
6.3.1 Interactions between participants
6.3.2 International influences – climate change
6.3.3 Divisions within stakeholder groups
6.4 The implications of applying the urban technology cooperation approach to urban Latin America
6.5 Conclusion
Notes
References
Chapter 7: Broader policies (trade and competitiveness) and their effects on RET adoption in Mexico City and São Paulo
7.1 Introduction
7.2 Trade and competitiveness policies and RET adoption
7.2.1 Patents and intellectual property rights
7.2.2 Privatization
7.2.3 Building up opportunities for innovation capabilities?
7.3 Conclusion
Notes
References
Chapter 8: Policy suggestions and conclusion
8.1 Introduction
8.2 Systemic approaches provide a more complete explanation for RET use in the urban developing world
8.3 Awareness of energy conservation and prior experiences play a role in the uptake of RETs
8.4 More opportunities to develop local innovation capabilities played a positive role in RET adoption
8.5 Under certain conditions conditionally open trade regimes can also encourage RET adoption in urban developing country cities
8.6 Systemic approaches and RET adoption in Mexico City and São Paulo – urban technology cooperation
8.7 A cleaner world – implications for renewable energy and climate change policies
Note
References
Index
