Renewable Energy Uptake in Urban Latin America : Sustainable Technology in Mexico and Brazil

This book explores the perplexing question of how to increase sustainable energy technology use in the developing world, and specifically focuses on two megacities within Latin America. __Renewable Energy Uptake in Urban Latin America__ examines the market and uptake of two sustainable energy technologies (solar water heaters and biogas to produce electricity) in two locations, Mexico City, Mexico and São Paulo, Brazil in the 2000s. Drawing from three systems-based analytical frameworks – including one developed by the author for the purpose of this study – the book examines the varying factors affecting the implementation of renewable energy technologies (RETs) in urban Latin America. These frameworks emphasize the importance of examining socio-political dimensions; rather than conventional explanations that focus on technical and economic aspects only. By doing so, the research improves explanations about renewable energy technology (RET) adoption in the global South. These findings are useful for scholars, policy makers and practitioners working on RET adoption; resulting in a book which helps to inform wider debates regarding innovation, decarbonization, sustainability transitions and energy system change. This book will be of great interest to students and scholars of energy transitions, energy policy, development studies and science and technology studies. Cover 1 Half Title 2 Series Page 3 Title Page 4 Copyright Page 5 Table of Contents 6 List of Figures 7 List of Tables 8 Acknowledgements 9 List of Abbreviations 11 Chapter 1: The urban developing world and energy system change: More than equipment, skills and money 14 1.1 The renewable energy challenge for growing cities 14 1.2 Scope and approach 17 1.3 Renewable energy experiences in urban Latin America – experiences from megacities 21 1.4 Mexico City and São Paulo 23 1.5 Typical explanations for renewable energy technology adoption (or a lack thereof) in the global South 24 Financial and economic barriers 24 Technical barriers 26 Knowledge barriers 26 Institutional and legal barriers 27 1.6 Further insights about renewable energy adoption in urban Latin America 29 1.7 Methods – data collection and analysis 30 1.8 Conclusion 34 Notes 35 References 35 Chapter 2: Assessing RET uptake through systems-based approaches 42 2.1 Introduction 42 2.2 Alternative technology adoption approaches – systemic frameworks 44 2.2.1 Societal transformations/ transitions (includes multilevel perspective, strategic niche management, transitions management, sustainability transitions) 45 2.2.2 Energy and political economy and social justice approaches 45 2.2.3 Multicriteria analysis 46 2.2.4 Renewable energy adoption through diffusion of innovation, urban technology cooperation and trade and competitiveness regimes 47 2.3 Rogers’ diffusion of innovations 50 2.4 From technology transfer to technology cooperation 55 2.4.1 Historical and contemporary approaches to technology transfer – the practice and theory 55 2.4.2 Contemporary thinking around renewable energy technology transfer 57 2.4.3 Innovation systems: linking technology use to innovation 59 2.5 Urban technology cooperation 59 2.6 Trade and competitiveness regimes and RET adoption – key debates 63 2.6.1 Defining trade and competitiveness policies 64 2.6.2 Inward-looking trade and competitiveness policies 65 2.6.3 Outward-looking trade and competitiveness policies 65 2.6.4 Conditionally outward-looking trade and so that competitiveness is all on one line 66 2.6.5 Trade and competitiveness policies and the uptake of low-carbon energy technologies 66 2.6.6 Trade and competitiveness approaches in Latin America 68 2.7 Conclusion 69 Notes 71 References 72 Chapter 3: Energy system change in urban Latin America: Solar water heaters and biogas for electricity generation in Mexico City 79 3.1 Introduction 79 3.2 Mexico City – context 80 3.3 Solar water heater use in Mexico and Mexico City – the hardware 85 3.3.1 Mexican SWH industry 85 3.3.2 SWH equipment use in Mexico 87 3.3.3 SWH market in Mexico 87 3.3.4 Types of SWHs in Mexico 89 3.3.5 SWH equipment use in Mexico City 90 3.3.6 SWH market growth in Mexico City 93 3.4 SWH use in Mexico and Mexico City – the software 95 3.4.1 Organizations working on SWHs in Mexico City 95 3.5 Biogas use to produce electricity in Mexico and Mexico City – the hardware 98 3.5.1 Biogas equipment use in Mexico 98 3.5.2 Biogas equipment use in Mexico City 99 3.6 Biogas use to produce electricity in Mexico and Mexico City – the software 99 3.6.1 Organizations working on biogas to generate electricity in Mexico City 99 3.7 Factors affecting SWH use in Mexico City 101 3.8 Factors affecting the use of biogas to produce electricity in Mexico City 109 3.9 Conclusion 113 Notes 115 References 119 Chapter 4: Energy system change in urban Latin America: Solar water heaters and biogas for electricity generation in São Paulo 122 4.1 Introduction 122 4.2 São Paulo and Brazil – context 123 4.3 Solar water heater use in Brazil and São Paulo in the 2000s – the hardware 132 4.3.1 Brazilian SWH industry 132 4.3.2 SWH equipment use in Brazil 133 4.3.3 Brazilian SWH market 133 4.3.4 Types of SWHs in Brazil 135 4.3.5 SWH equipment use in São Paulo 136 4.4 SWH use in Brazil and São Paulo in the 2000s – the software 137 4.4.1 Organizations working on SWHs in São Paulo 138 4.5 Using biogas to produce electricity in Brazil and São Paulo – the hardware 141 4.5.1 Biogas to produce electricity equipment use in Brazil 141 4.5.2 Biogas to produce electricity equipment use in São Paulo 143 4.6 Using biogas to produce electricity in Brazil and São Paulo – the software 145 4.6.1 Organizations working on biogas to generate electricity in São Paulo 146 4.7 Factors affecting SWH use in São Paulo 146 4.8 Factors affecting the use of biogas to produce electricity in São Paulo 153 4.9 Conclusion 156 Notes 158 References 161 Chapter 5: What’s shaping our views about technologies? The role of previous experiences 164 5.1 Introduction 164 5.2 Rogers’ diffusion of innovations framework 165 5.3 Applying Rogers to SWH and biogas technology to generate electricity adoption in Mexico City and São Paulo 166 5.3.1 Knowledge of solar water heaters and biogas technologies 166 5.3.2 SWHs in Mexico City and São Paulo 167 5.3.3 Biogas to produce electricity in Mexico City and São Paulo 169 5.4 Relative advantage – cost 171 5.4.1 Cost of SWHs in Mexico City and São Paulo 172 5.4.2 Cost of SWHs in Mexico City and São Paulo vis-à-vis alternatives 173 5.4.3 Cost of biogas for electricity generation in Mexico City and São Paulo 175 5.4.4 Cost of biogas for electricity generation in Mexico City and São Paulo vis- à-visalternatives 177 5.5 Conclusion and policy implications 185 Notes 186 References 188 Chapter 6: Urban technology cooperation: An alternative explanation for RET adoption in Latin American cities 191 6.1 Introduction 191 6.2 The urban technology cooperation approach – a recap 193 6.3 Applying the urban technology cooperation approach to explain RET adoption in Mexico City and São Paulo 196 6.3.1 Interactions between participants 196 6.3.2 International influences – climate change 205 6.3.3 Divisions within stakeholder groups 210 6.4 The implications of applying the urban technology cooperation approach to urban Latin America 214 6.5 Conclusion 219 Notes 221 References 222 Chapter 7: Broader policies (trade and competitiveness) and their effects on RET adoption in Mexico City and São Paulo 225 7.1 Introduction 225 7.2 Trade and competitiveness policies and RET adoption 228 7.2.1 Patents and intellectual property rights 228 7.2.2 Privatization 231 7.2.3 Building up opportunities for innovation capabilities? 234 7.3 Conclusion 236 Notes 237 References 237 Chapter 8: Policy suggestions and conclusion 239 8.1 Introduction 239 8.2 Systemic approaches provide a more complete explanation for RET use in the urban developing world 240 8.3 Awareness of energy conservation and prior experiences play a role in the uptake of RETs 241 8.4 More opportunities to develop local innovation capabilities played a positive role in RET adoption 243 8.5 Under certain conditions conditionally open trade regimes can also encourage RET adoption in urban developing country cities 244 8.6 Systemic approaches and RET adoption in Mexico City and São Paulo – urban technology cooperation 245 8.7 A cleaner world – implications for renewable energy and climate change policies 245 Note 248 References 249 Index 250 "This book explores the perplexing question of how to increase sustainable energy technology use in the developing world, and specifically focuses on two mega-cities within Latin America. Renewable Energy Uptake in Urban Latin America examines the market and uptake of two sustainable energy technologies (solar water heaters and biogas to produce electricity) in two locations, Mexico City, Mexico and São Paulo, Brazil in the 2000s. Drawing from three systems-based analytical frameworks --including one developed by the author for the purpose of this study -- the book examines the varying factors affecting the implementation of renewable energy technologies (RETs) in urban Latin America. These frameworks emphasize the importance of examining socio-political dimensions; rather than conventional explanations that focus on technical and economic aspects only. By doing so, the research improves explanations about renewable energy technology (RET) adoption in the global South. These findings are useful for scholars, policy makers and practitioners working on RET adoption; resulting in a book which helps to inform wider debates regarding innovation, decarbonization, sustainability transitions and energy system change. This book will be of great interest to students and scholars of energy"-- Provided by publisher