RENEWABLE ENERGY FOR AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT

A great deal of attention has been paid to the needs of the rural poor in their pursuit of economic, social and political development. In th is light the merits of rural electrification are often debated with mi xed conclusions and conjectures. The positive role renewable energy pl ays in the drama of human development is enjoying greater receptivity by both policy makers and villagers. However, institutional barriers s till inhibit increased adoption of renewable energy technologies. This article argues that the question of how renewable energy services can be delivered to and paid for by the rural and peri-urban populations is answered not so much by the technology selected as by the instituti onal and organizational structures erected. By addressing financial in frastructure, capacity building, and village empowerment sustainable r ural electrification programs are possible. Published by Elsevier Scie nce Ltd.