Abstract:
There is great potential for renewable energy (RE) in Senegal. Like other
countries in sub-Saharan Africa, Senegal needs a reliable and affordable energy
supply to fuel its growing energy needs (IRENA, 2020a) and has abundant natural
resources for renewable energy (IRENA, 2020b). Developing RE could promote
energy independence, reduce energy costs, enable a robust energy supply, create
new jobs, provide access to unserved rural areas, and, above all, contribute to the
reduction of greenhouse gas emissions (Apfel and Herbes, 2021).
But the country still relies heavily on imported fossil fuels, and the factors in a
transition to renewable energy are little understood (Apfel et al., 2021). Complex
political, economic, and social systems interact in Senegal to influence the transition
processes, and the research reported in this thesis was undertaken to better
understand both these systems and their interactions. Two overarching questions
drive the research: First, what leads small- and medium-sized entrepreneurial
enterprises (SMEs) – nearly all the businesses in Senegal – to participate, or not, in
the transition of the energy sector towards renewable energy? Second, what social,
economic and political dynamics are behind the creation of emerging energy paths in
Senegal?
Three intersecting approaches were taken to these questions. First, a systematic
literature review of RE research in the Global South was done. Quantitative models,
especially energy models, are found to dominate the discourse. Political and social
processes are surprisingly under-researched. Established concepts and approaches
appear inadequate to understand sustainable energy transitions in the Global South.
To find more viable concepts, I derive five avenues for future research: sociotechnical
energy imaginaries, power in energy systems, social innovations, business
factors and spatial dimensions (Apfel et al., 2021).
The second line of inquiry explores entrepreneurship in Senegal, specifically the
factors influencing RE adoption by Senegalese entrepreneurs. Using an extended
UTAUT 2 model to analyze interviews with 23 SMEs and 13 energy experts, I find
effort expectancy is generally underestimated, usually due to inadequate knowledge
about RE. Performance expectancy can be high and may have a positive impact on
the adoption process, while social influence does not seem to play a role. Paramount
among facilitating conditions is the support of the government, although the cost of RE technologies is also an influencing factor. The factors motivating RE adoption
associated with prosumerism in the West cannot be assumed in Senegal.
The third approach to understanding the energy transition in Senegal comes out
of Evolutionary Economic Geography, where the framework of regional path creation
processes of MacKinnon et al. (2019) is used to analyze interview data from 17
Senegalese energy experts. In this way, I identify three parallel emerging energy
paths – path transplantation, indigenous path creation and path upgrading. Each is
evolving in a different sector of the energy system and at its own pace and scale.
Each differs greatly in its underlying legitimation and the support from institutions for
its development. Dominant structures along each path are identified and future
opportunities to address Senegal’s energy futures are highlighted (Apfel, 2022).
In addition to contributing to researchers in the field, the results reported herein
can inform and encourage professionals of development agencies, regional
institutions, NGOs and private firms in shaping a sustainable energy system in
Senegal.
renewable energy