Socioeconomic Aspects of Renewable Energy Technologies

Major changes have occurred in both the composition of energy supply and the choice of technology, especially in activities in which energy intensity has a significant bearing on the costs and competitiveness of goods and services. Presented here, in the context of these changes, are case studies on the macroeconomic evaluation of ethylalcohol programs and the microeconomic evaluation of technologies for irrigation pumping. Environment and Resource Conservation

During the last decade, a large volume of literature has addressed the two major policy issues concerning energy programs in developing countries: overall energy conservation and provision of energy for rural development needs. Yet, many of these works have been supply-sided without adequate analysis of users' needs and the different option to meet them. Ex-post evaluations of existing field experiences with renewable technologies are still scarce, and many of those which have appeared provide limited insights for planning and implementation in different countries. Socioeconomic Aspects of Renewable Energy Technologies addresses these oversights. A selected number of technologies and topics concerning renewable energy sources for developing countries are discussed, including ethanol and the macro-economic evaluation of ethanol programs; various renewable energy technologies for end-use such was water-pumping for irrigation; and the micro-economic evaluation of these additional technologies.

RAMESH BHATIA is Professor of Economics at the Institute of Economic Growth, New Delhi, India.

ARMAND PEREIRA is an economist and official of the International Labour Office and Employment Branch, Geneva, Switzerland.