This book highlights the role that renewable energy can play in achieving sustainable development. It focuses on rural areas of developing countries, looking in particular at stand-alone solar home systems and grid-connected biomass cogeneration plant. It provides a summary of the main barriers to the successful transfer of renewable energy technology, illustrated by case studies drawn from Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, the South Pacific, Kenya and India. Options for overcoming the barriers and the role of key players are presented. The book also outlines the potential role of the Clean Development Mechanism of the Kyoto Protocol in facilitating renewable energy technology transfer in the context of climate change.The book will appeal to academics, consultants, technology manufacturers, international funding bodies, multilateral and bilateral aid agencies, policy-makers and planners in developing countries.

Presenting the best papers of the 3rd EPFL-UNESCO Chair Conference on Technologies for Development, this publication offers a valuable collection of innovative case studies exploring access to energy and renewable energy technologies in the Global South. It investigates the key determinants for successfully providing energy to resource-poor communities and examines a wide range of technologies for energy production, distribution, storage and efficient use. Taken together, these case studies deal with the entire life cycle of products and solutions, as well as the complete value chain including all relevant stake holders. The collection also draws upon empirical research conducted in Africa and South America to present critical perspectives on women’s access to technologies in the renewable sector. This publication serves as a bridge between engineers, economists and other scientists involved in research on the interface between technology and human, social and economic development. It also provides a valuable resource to academics and researchers of the natural sciences, computer science, information management, quantitative social sciences and business studies.