A study on the factors and mechanisms facilitating renewable energy development and access in Togo.

Kansongue, Nanimpo

Abstract

Energy demand is continually increasing due to population growth, improved standard of living, as well as the widespread emergence of industries. This high demand for energy must be met by production with a reasonable reserve margin for sufficiency. Literature reviews and field visits show that Togo has a significant amount of natural resources - such as wind, solar, biomass and hydro - required to implement a nationwide sustainable energy system. However, to date, Togo has relied on biomass energy and energy import from Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire and Nigeria. Although the use of renewable energy is continually increasing, and the technologies are becoming far more affordable, this source of energy still struggles for development in many countries, including Togo. In Togo, research to understand the current energy situation and possible ways to resolve the energy issues are limited. With the continuous increase in Togo's population and living standards, and the emergence of industries, the need to develop renewable sources of energy has become a necessity. This research uses a mixture of methodologies combining qualitative and quantitative approaches (and the use of strategic frameworks such as Delphi, PESTEL and SWOT for analysis) to investigate the potential of renewable energy, its impacts and factors that will help its development. The Delphi method is used to analyse the possibilities, barriers and solutions for energy growth, and to discuss the views of respondents regarding renewable energy development in Togo. The study results show a desire to develop renewable energy technologies, with the most preferred energy sources being solar photovoltaics (PV) and small-scale hydropower energy to increase energy access. However, key barriers exist, including: the complexity of existing policies and regulations; a lack of clarity and transparency; a lack of readily available information for renewable energy, causing high risk for investors; a lack of public-private sector partnership; the non-inclusion of private companies in decision making; and the monopoly of the electricity company. In addition, coordination between entities in the energy sector is weak, dedicated institutions are lacking, responsibilities are unclear and coordination among agencies is poor. Finally, there is a lack of awareness, high cost of tariffs, and a lack of standardised power purchase agreements and power purchase tariffs amongst others. The study recommends: the review of existing policies and regulations for clarity, transparency and simplicity; the introduction of incentive measures in taxation; and standardization of power purchase agreements and power purchase tariffs in a way that is fair and beneficial to all. Development of financial models in the form of grants to seek help from funding bodies, working with banks to provide loans to small/medium businesses to initiate new ventures and a micro financing model with payment in the form of crops are also recommended. Moreover, the production of materials that are accessible, efficient and adapted to Togo would be critical, as well as liberalizing the energy sector, strengthening management, prioritizing renewable energy and promoting diversification for system optimization. Furthermore, real mapping of technology resources is recommended to provide readily available data for investors. An increase in stakeholders' participation in all stages of the project is encouraged, and gender and age inequalities should be avoided in energy policy, planning and implementation. Finally, the study recommends raising awareness and educating everyone, including illiterate people, about renewable energy and partnering with relevant countries that could help train experts.

Citation

KANSONGUE, N. 2024. A study on the factors and mechanisms facilitating renewable energy development and access in Togo. Robert Gordon University, PhD thesis. Hosted on OpenAIR [online]. Available from: https://doi.org/10.48526/rgu-wt-2571142

• Thesis Type: Thesis
• Deposit Date: Nov 5, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 5, 2024
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.48526/rgu-wt-2571142
• Keywords: Energy policy; Renewable energy; Sustainable development; Socio-economic development; Rural communities; Togo
• Public URL: https://rgu-repository.worktribe.com/output/2571142
• Award Date: Apr 30, 2024