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Barriers and Solutions to the Development of Renewable Energy Technologies in the Caribbean

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Decentralized Solutions for Developing Economies

Part of the book series: Springer Proceedings in Energy ((SPE))

Abstract

Despite large amounts of readily available renewable energy, most island states in the Caribbean are still heavily dependent on mostly imported fossil fuels for their energy production. Making use of empirical analyses, this paper explores the barriers to the development of RE for power generation in the Caribbean, and outlines a strategy of how to overcome these barriers. Semi-structured interviews with three “super-experts” serve to supplement the findings of a preceding literature review. Approximately 30 experts are consulted to confirm and rank the identified barriers to RE according to their importance. The end-product of this study is a ranking matrix that will serve as a strategy instrument for decision-makers, who are then able to prioritise barriers and initiate their removal.

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Acknowledgments

One author (P. Blechinger) gratefully acknowledges the Reiner-Lemoine Foundation for financing his research work. In addition we would like to thank the RLI off-grid team for valuable discussions and support during this research work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Reiner Lemoine Institut gGmbH, Ostendstraße 25, 12459, Berlin, Germany

    Philipp Blechinger & Katharina Richter

  2. Department of Engineering, Berlin Institute of Technology, Fasanenstraße 89, 10623, Berlin, Germany

    Philipp Blechinger

  3. Department of Social Sciences V, University of Stuttgart, Seidenstr. 36, 70174, Stuttgart, Germany

    Ortwin Renn

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  1. Philipp Blechinger
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  2. Katharina Richter
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  3. Ortwin Renn
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Correspondence to Philipp Blechinger .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. ZTG Sekr. HBS1, Technische Universität Berlin Microenergy Systems Research Group, Berlin, Germany

    Sebastian Groh

  2. ZTG Sekr. HBS1, Technische Universität Berlin Microenergy Systems Research Group, Berlin, Germany

    Jonas van der Straeten

  3. ZTG Sekr. HBS1, Technische Universität Berlin Microenergy Systems Research Group, Berlin, Germany

    Brian Edlefsen Lasch

  4. University of California Berkeley Rural Energy Group, Berkeley, California, USA

    Dimitry Gershenson

  5. Faculty of Life Sciences, Hamburg University of Applied Science, Hamburg, Germany

    Walter Leal Filho

  6. Class of 135 Distinguished, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA

    Daniel M. Kammen

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Blechinger, P., Richter, K., Renn, O. (2015). Barriers and Solutions to the Development of Renewable Energy Technologies in the Caribbean. In: Groh, S., van der Straeten, J., Edlefsen Lasch, B., Gershenson, D., Leal Filho, W., Kammen, D. (eds) Decentralized Solutions for Developing Economies. Springer Proceedings in Energy. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-15964-5_24

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