Innovation and Renewable Electrification in Kenya (IREK)

project summary

As the global climate change regime moves ahead towards 2020, there will be increasing investments related to climate change mitigation and adaptation in poor countries. Ensuring that the most adequate technologies are selected and that they are diffused and used in such a way that the outcome is better living conditions for the population is a major challenge. This project studies two specific low-carbon technologies solar photovoltaic and wind power and it takes as its starting point the role international sources of knowledge can play for Kenya. It will explore whether or not actors originating from China have the potential to provide particularly relevant low carbon technologies that bring benefits to the poor in Africa as compared to actors from Denmark and Germany. As the next step it will study what kind of public policies, institutional settings and participatory organizational forms are necessary to realize such a potential and thereby contribute to fulfilling the sustainable energy for all imperative. The project will combine quantitative analysis including use of survey data with qualitative analysis and case studies. Interactive learning with policy makers and other stakeholders is an integral part of the project design.