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Unsold solar: a post-mortem of Papua New Guinea's teachers solar lighting project

journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-08, 23:25 authored by Anthony L D'agostino, Benjamin SovacoolBenjamin Sovacool
Papua New Guinea’s electrification rate positions the country among the lowest in the world. Given its overall low population density, household income levels, and geophysical barriers, energy access is unlikely to be greatly expanded through grid extension in the near future. Renewable energy technologies present an alternative solution and have been promoted through various donor-driven efforts in recent years. One such example is the World Bank-assisted Teachers Solar Lighting Project, scheduled for implementation from 2005-2010, which aimed to sell 2,500 solar home lighting kits to out-posted school teachers while also supporting the growth of local, renewable energy industries. The project was terminated before its target end-date and only one solar kit was sold. To understand this apparent failure, we review the project by drawing from in-country fieldwork conducted in March 2010 and semi-structured research interviews held with representatives from the implementing agencies, relevant public and private sector bodies, and school teachers targeted for participation. In addition to the traditional techno-economic barriers that impeded diffusion of renewable energy, we posit that social and cultural factors were also significant barriers.

History

Publication status

  • Published

Journal

Journal of Energy and Development

ISSN

0361-4476

Publisher

International Research Center for Energy and Economic Development

Issue

1

Volume

36

Page range

1-21

Department affiliated with

  • SPRU - Science Policy Research Unit Publications

Full text available

  • No

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2016-01-08

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