Sustainable energy for whom? Governing pro-poor, low carbon pathways to development: Lessons from solar PV in Kenya Byrne, R., Ockwell, D., Urama, K., Ozor, N., Kirumba, E., Ely, A., Becker, S. and Gollwitzer, L. Energy access Sustainable energy for whom? Governing Sarah Becker is an ESRC funded PhD student jointly supervised between the School of Psychology and the School of Global pro-poor, low carbon pathways to Studies at the University of Sussex. Her research focuses on public development: Lessons from solar PV in Kenya perception of climate change. Lorenz Gollwitzer is currently researching issues surrounding Using a combination of insights from innovation studies, socio- community-based rural electrification in East Africa for his PhD at technical transitions theory and the STEPS pathways approach, this SPRU - Science and Technology Policy Research. His past research paper analyses the evolution of the Kenyan photovoltaics (PV) market. and work has focused on accelerating deployment of low-carbon Considered by many to be an exemplar of private sector led technologies for rural electrification in developing countries. development, the Kenyan PV market has witnessed the adoption of more than 300,000 solar home systems and over 100,000 solar About the STEPS Centre portable lights. The notion of an entrepreneurially driven unsubsidised solar market has proved to be a powerful narrative Today’s world is experiencing rapid social, technological and amongst development actors who, paradoxically, have provided environmental change, yet poverty and inequality are growing. millions of dollars of funding to encourage the market’s development. Linking environmental sustainability with poverty reduction and We argue that this donor support has been critical to the success of social justice, and making science and technology work for the the market, but not simply by helping to create an enabling poor, have become central challenges of our times. The STEPS environment in which entrepreneurs can flourish. Donor assistance Centre (Social, Technological and Environmental Pathways to has been critical in supporting a range of actors to build the elements Sustainability) is an interdisciplinary global research and policy of a PV innovation system by providing active protection for engagement hub that unites development studies with science experimentation, network-building, and the construction of shared and technology studies. We are developing a new approach to visions amongst actors throughout supply chains and amongst users. understanding and action on sustainability and development in This analysis gives important clues for designing climate and an era of unprecedented dynamic change. Our pathways development policies, with implications for the governance of energy approach aims to link new theory with practical solutions that access pathways that are inclusive of poor and marginalised groups in create better livelihoods, health and social justice for poor and low income countries. marginalised people. The STEPS Centre is based at the Institute of Development Studies and SPRU Science and Technology Policy About the Authors Research at the University of Sussex, with partners in Africa, Asia Rob Byrne is a Research Fellow in SPRU - Science and Technology and Latin America. We are funded by the ESRC, the UK’s largest Policy Research at the University of Sussex. He co-convenes the funding agency for research and training relating STEPS Centre’s energy and climate change domain. Rob’s work is to social and economic issues. mainly in low carbon technological innovation in developing www.steps-centre.org. countries, and has been involved particularly in research on East Africa and China. Follow us on Twitter @stepscentre David Ockwell is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Geography Other titles in this series include: at the University of Sussex. He co-convenes the STEPS Centre’s energy and climate change domain. His research, teaching and policy Approach Pathways to sustainability: an overview of the work focuses on climate and energy policy with particular interests in STEPS Centre approach low carbon development in developing countries. 1. Dynamics Dynamic Systems and the Challenge of Kevin Urama is currently the Executive Director of the African Sustainability Technology Policy Studies Network (ATPS) based in Nairobi, Kenya 2. Governance Understanding Governance: pathways to and the Inaugural President of the African Society for Ecological sustainability Economics (ASEE) – the African chapter of the International Society for Ecological Economics (ISEE). 3. Designs Empowering Designs: towards more progressive appraisal of sustainability Nicholas Ozor is a Senior Research Officer ATPS where he undertakes research, training, communication and outreach activities in the area 4. Agriculture Agri-Food System Dynamics: pathways to of science, technology and innovation for African development. IDS_Master Logo sustainability in an era of uncertainty Edith Kirumba works as a Post-Doctoral Research Officer at ATPS 5. Health Health in a Dynamic World where she undertakes research, capacity building, information 6. Water Liquid Dynamics: challenges for sustainability dissemination, knowledge brokerage and fundraising activities. in water and sanitation Adrian Ely is a Lecturer at SPRU – Science and Technology Policy For more STEPS Centre publications visit: Research at the University of Sussex, UK and Head of Impact and Engagement at the STEPS Centre. Adrian’s research has focused on www.steps-centre.org/publications the regulation and governance of biotechnology for sustainable This publication was funded by The Climate and Development development. Knowledge Network (www.cdkn.org) This is one of a series of Working Papers from the STEPS Centre www.steps-centre.org. ISBN-978 1 78118 155 3 © STEPS 2014 This document is an output from a project funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID) and the Netherlands Directorate-General for International Cooperation (DGIS) for the benefit of developing countries. However, the views expressed and information contained in it are not necessarily those of or endorsed by DFID or DGIS, who can accept no responsibility for such views or information or for any reliance placed on them. This publication has been prepared for general guidance on matters of interest only, and does not constitute professional advice. You should not act upon the information contained in this publication without obtaining specific professional advice. No representation or warranty (express or implied) is given as to the accuracy or completeness of the information contained in this publication, and, to the extent permitted by law, the entities managing the delivery of the Climate and Development Knowledge Network do not accept or assume any liability, responsibility or duty of care for any consequences of you or anyone else acting, or refraining to act, in reliance on the information contained in this publication or for any decision based on it. Management of the delivery of CDKN is undertaken by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, and an alliance of organisations including Fundación Futuro Latinoamericano, INTRAC, LEAD International, the Overseas Development Institute, and SouthSouthNorth. Sustainable energy for whom? Governing pro-poor, low carbon pathways to development: lessons from solar PV in Kenya Rob Byrne1, David Ockwell1, Kevin Urama2, Dr Nicholas Ozor2, Edith Kirumba2, Adrian Ely1, Sarah Becker1, Lorenz Gollwitzer1 STEPS Working Paper 61 1STEPS Centre, University of Sussex, UK 2The African Technology Policy Studies Network (ATPS), Kenya Correct citation: Byrne, R., Ockwell, D., Urama, K., Ozor, N., Kirumba, E., Ely, A., Becker, S. and Gollwitzer, L. (2014) Sustainable energy for whom? Governing pro-poor, low carbon pathways to development: Lessons from solar PV in Kenya, STEPS Working Paper 61, Brighton: STEPS Centre First published in 2014 © STEPS 2014 Some rights reserved – see copyright license for details ISBN: 978-1-78118-155-3 Notes and acknowledgements: This paper details the findings of a research project funded by the Climate Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) conducted between April 2011 and March 2013. The project also benefited from research by Paula Rolffs (supervised by Ockwell and Byrne) and Mipsie Marshall (supervised by Byrne and Lars Otto Naess) as part of their MSc research at Sussex. This additional work is available in other working papers to be published by the STEPS Centre. And Sarah Becker (supervised by Byrne and Ockwell) also worked on the project as a research intern as part of her MRes at Sussex. The project builds significantly on intellectual interactions with and contributions by other Sussex academics, in particular Adrian Smith, Jim Watson and Andy Stirling for which the project team are extremely grateful. The project also benefited hugely from support from the STEPS Centre’s ICE (Impact, Communications and Engagement) team – in particular the project team wish to thank Julia Day, Adrian Ely and Nathan Oxley who were fundamental to the quality of ICE the project was able to deliver. The work was conducted as an equal partnership between STEPS and ATPS. However, certain tasks were clearly delineated between the two organisations. In particular, ATPS conducted an analysis of the Kenyan policy environment and this work is to be published by them as another working paper. Rob Byrne spent three and a half months conducting fieldwork in Kenya, assisted for some of that time by