Socio-Technical Viability Framework for Micro Hydropower in Group Water-Energy Schemes

Kemi Adeyeye, John Gallagher, Aonghus McNabola, Helena M. Ramos and Paul Coughlan
Additional contact information
Kemi Adeyeye: Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath BA2 7AY, UK
John Gallagher: Department of Civil, Structural & Environmental Engineering, Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin, College Green, D02 PN40 Dublin, Ireland
Aonghus McNabola: Department of Civil, Structural & Environmental Engineering, Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin, College Green, D02 PN40 Dublin, Ireland
Helena M. Ramos: Civil Engineering, Architecture and Georesources Department, CERIS, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal
Paul Coughlan: Trinity Business School, Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin, College Green, D02 PN40 Dublin, Ireland

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 14, 1-21

Abstract: Most renewable energy (RE) studies focus on technology readiness, environmental benefits and/or cost savings. The market permeation, viability and adoption of RE technologies such as micro hydropower (MHP), however, require the alignment of other interrelated factors, such as the socio-technical, institutional and political dimensions. This is particularly the case where the energy recovery potential in decentralised water networks is being explored as part of a wholesome sustainability strategy by and for individual and communal prosumers. This study employs a socio-technical approach to understand factors that influence the perceived viability and adoption of MHP in group water-energy schemes. Methods included a progressive literature review to formulate a conceptual framework for the implementation of MHP systems. The framework was validated using survey data from representative stakeholders from groups schemes in Ireland and Spain. These stakeholders were sampled and surveyed at the stage of considering the adoption of MHP in their water networks. The findings highlight the push–pull factors and discusses the opportunities and barriers to the adoption of MHP systems. It confirms that the market, institutional and policy context, cost and financial benefits, social support and collaborative services combine to influence the adoption of MHP technology. Thus, a framework for evaluating the socio-technical viability of MHP systems based on these more realistic integrated, multi-dimensional criteria is proposed.

Keywords: conceptual framework; group water-energy scheme; micro hydropower; socio-technical approach; prosumers; social adoption and viability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/14/4222/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/14/4222/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jeners:v:14:y:2021:i:14:p:4222-:d:593350

Access Statistics for this article

Energies is currently edited by Ms. Agatha Cao

More articles in Energies from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().