Situated Research Project: Renewable Energy in Burundi & Iceland
For ENVS 220
by Andrew Hayes, Treasure McMahan, Madeline Kay, Christopher Plechot Binder
Framing Question: How can renewable energy technologies affect socio-economic shortcomings in high and low income countries?
Situated Context: Burundi and Iceland
Situated Context: Burundi and Iceland
The HourglassFor our situated research, we are following a research model called the Hourglass.
In this model, the top of the Hourglass is a broad approach which features background information, framing questions, theses, actors/processes and situated contexts. The middle of the Hourglass is more focused and surmises of our focus question, methodology, analysis, and research. In the Bottom of the hourglass and in the end of the project in this model, we include comparisons/ generalizations, next steps, and further research. This section is more up to interpretation and uses our findings to suggest future actions and research that should take place in order to gain a better understanding of the problem at hand. |
Top of the Hourglass
In Environmental Studies 220, we recently began our situated project research. For our project, my group and I are attempting to look at renewable energy use in Burundi and Iceland to gain greater insight for motivations of renewable energy use. Our framing question for our project is “How can renewable energy technologies affect socio-economic shortcomings in high and low income countries?"
” We chose this as our framing question because while doing research in another lab, we noticed Burundi’s high rate of renewable energy consumption. We were studying income group and environmental health at the time and became more interested in Burundi’s system of renewable energy. Because we are very interested in why countries turn to such renewable energy sources, we decided to look at a high-income country and a low-income country that primarily utilizes renewable energy. To begin our project, we created a two mind maps to visually display the connections between the actors contributing to each country’s respective energy use. Our mind map functions by displaying key ideas and the contributing factors to those ideas, using lines and bubbles to display how they are connected. For each mind map, we looked at historical, cultural, political, economic, and geographic aspects of each country and included actors that our research suggested plays a role in energy consumption in that country. Link to Annotated Bibliography: https://www.zotero.org/groups/2255337/220_burundi |
Middle of the Hourglass
Focus Question: How have renewable energy technologies in Burundi and Iceland affected socio-economic shortcomings?
We chose this focus question because it confronts the explanatory dimensions of our situated project topic. For our project, we are attempting to explain why these countries chose to utilize RETs as well as how that implementation has solved or aided Burundi and Iceland's socioeconomic problems.
As a low-income country, we would expect Burundi to not rely on renewable energy based on the kuznets curve hypothesis. However, the Regulatory Indicators for Sustainable Energy (RISE) report provided us with country level data on Burundi’s energy consumption habits. Based on their report, it appears that there are more equity issues involved in Burundi’s energy consumption habits, (RISE 2018). Additionally, they heavily rely on renewable energy sources such as solar power, wind power, hydropower, and biomass, (“Renewable Energy in Burundi, 2014). The strangest thing about Burundi’s renewable energy consumption is the country’s instability and violence. According to Peter Uvin, the negative relationship between the Tutsi and Hutu people has led to violence, death, and genocide from colonial times until now. (Uvin, 1999)
We also wanted to study Iceland in comparison because it is a high income country with a high rate renewable energy consumption. According to Egill Benedikt Hreinsson, “at least 3 conditions must be present, or come together, to be able to extract a significant economic value from these renewable energy resources.” These are “relatively plentiful renewable energy resource availability at a specific location where these can be exploited at a cost, lower than the prevailing market prices in regional or global markets. Market access and the possibility of transmitting renewable energy to and selling in a well functioning nearby electricity or energy market. Market development in that market, including pricing of environmental constraints (Such as emission trading schemes) where these would developing their own market price.” Iceland’s “abundance of indigenous renewable energy resources in hydroelectricity and geothermal energy” has allowed the country to capitalize on renewable energy sources, (Hreinsson, 2018).
Bibliography:
Hreinsson, Egill Benedikt. “Renewable Energy Resources in Iceland – Environmental Policy and Economic Value,” 2008, 10
RISE. “Regulatory Indicators for Sustainable Energy (RISE) 2016 Country Data - Burundi.” RISE, n.d.
“Renewable Energy in Burundi.” Fortune of Africa Burundi (blog). 2014, Accessed November 26, 2018. https://fortuneofafrica.com/burundi/renewable-energy-in-burundi/.
Uvin, Peter. “Ethnicity and Power in Burundi and Rwanda: Different Paths to Mass Violence.” Comparative Politics 31, no. 3 (1999): 253–71. https://doi.org/10.2307/422339.
We chose this focus question because it confronts the explanatory dimensions of our situated project topic. For our project, we are attempting to explain why these countries chose to utilize RETs as well as how that implementation has solved or aided Burundi and Iceland's socioeconomic problems.
As a low-income country, we would expect Burundi to not rely on renewable energy based on the kuznets curve hypothesis. However, the Regulatory Indicators for Sustainable Energy (RISE) report provided us with country level data on Burundi’s energy consumption habits. Based on their report, it appears that there are more equity issues involved in Burundi’s energy consumption habits, (RISE 2018). Additionally, they heavily rely on renewable energy sources such as solar power, wind power, hydropower, and biomass, (“Renewable Energy in Burundi, 2014). The strangest thing about Burundi’s renewable energy consumption is the country’s instability and violence. According to Peter Uvin, the negative relationship between the Tutsi and Hutu people has led to violence, death, and genocide from colonial times until now. (Uvin, 1999)
We also wanted to study Iceland in comparison because it is a high income country with a high rate renewable energy consumption. According to Egill Benedikt Hreinsson, “at least 3 conditions must be present, or come together, to be able to extract a significant economic value from these renewable energy resources.” These are “relatively plentiful renewable energy resource availability at a specific location where these can be exploited at a cost, lower than the prevailing market prices in regional or global markets. Market access and the possibility of transmitting renewable energy to and selling in a well functioning nearby electricity or energy market. Market development in that market, including pricing of environmental constraints (Such as emission trading schemes) where these would developing their own market price.” Iceland’s “abundance of indigenous renewable energy resources in hydroelectricity and geothermal energy” has allowed the country to capitalize on renewable energy sources, (Hreinsson, 2018).
Bibliography:
Hreinsson, Egill Benedikt. “Renewable Energy Resources in Iceland – Environmental Policy and Economic Value,” 2008, 10
RISE. “Regulatory Indicators for Sustainable Energy (RISE) 2016 Country Data - Burundi.” RISE, n.d.
“Renewable Energy in Burundi.” Fortune of Africa Burundi (blog). 2014, Accessed November 26, 2018. https://fortuneofafrica.com/burundi/renewable-energy-in-burundi/.
Uvin, Peter. “Ethnicity and Power in Burundi and Rwanda: Different Paths to Mass Violence.” Comparative Politics 31, no. 3 (1999): 253–71. https://doi.org/10.2307/422339.
Methodology
- Zotero-based annotated bibliography: Bibliography on Zotero listing all of our sources and their justifications.
- Concept maps: Maps used to visually display the actors and processes that affect our situated research.
- Statistical Analysis: we plan on using google sheets for descriptively and inferentially analyzing the countries’ data on income and renewable/non-renewable energy consumption with the end result of a chart or graph.
- Two ArcGIS maps: used to visually display our findings on income and energy consumption and possibly to compare the countries to others in the same income range.
- Field data: will likely focus on visiting renewable energy sites for a comparative analysis of their locations and success. We also plan on including ground truthing data on renewable energy production sites such as those designated for hydropower to see who is allowed access to that power and to the distance that the energy can be utilized.
- Acquire country-level World Bank Data: Allowing us to compare global Renewable Energy Consumption and Income Group data. Use these data to calculate descriptive statistics in each situated context.
- Interviews with Stakeholders: Largest RET energy producer in each country, conversations with staff and private contractor employers. Intensive and qualitative.
- Surveys of Citizens: Quantifying mentalities people who live near RET source sites have about energy use. Extensive and quantitative.
- Field Based Research: Ground truthing the distance RET power can travel from hydropower sources, mapping who has access. Additionally, we would apply for access to RET facilities to track generation of megawatt hours.
- Combined, these methods provide a comprehensive view of the way citizens access and regard their local RETs.
ArcGIS Map of Iceland and Western Europe depicting World Bank Income Group data alongside % Renewable Energy Use data. This area is higher income, and has high RET use.
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ArcGIS Map of central Africa, depicting World Bank Income Group data alongside % Renewable Energy Use data. This area is lower income, and has relatively high RET use.
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Timeline
Pre-departure Finalize preliminary research, survey, and interview questions. Finalize specific sites for surveys, interviews, and ground truthing.
Weeks 1-2 Both teams travel to Burundi and Iceland.
Weeks 2-10 Teams conduct interviews with staff and private contractors of largest RET production plants.
Weeks 8-10 Both teams distribute short surveys to settlements near RET production plants.
Weeks 10-14 Both teams begin traveling away from hydropower RET source sites, determining who has access to RET power over various distances.
Post-trip Use ArcGIS, statistics, and qualitative research analysis to examine interview and survey data.
Pre-departure Finalize preliminary research, survey, and interview questions. Finalize specific sites for surveys, interviews, and ground truthing.
Weeks 1-2 Both teams travel to Burundi and Iceland.
Weeks 2-10 Teams conduct interviews with staff and private contractors of largest RET production plants.
Weeks 8-10 Both teams distribute short surveys to settlements near RET production plants.
Weeks 10-14 Both teams begin traveling away from hydropower RET source sites, determining who has access to RET power over various distances.
Post-trip Use ArcGIS, statistics, and qualitative research analysis to examine interview and survey data.
Bottom of the Hourglass
- Our ArcGIS maps display a lateral comparison which examines income and renewable energy consumption. By visually displaying our data on a map, one may be able to see how other nations may find similar solutions to socio-economic shortcomings through RETs.
- Since these high and low income countries both rely on renewable energy sources, this shows that RETs may be a viable solution to energy problems for various nations of differing income groups.
- Results of fieldwork/interviews/scholarship: The results of our fieldwork and interviews should be able to suggest RETs as a solution that can inform other countries of the benefits of switching from fossil fuels to RETs.
- It also may benefit many people globally. By implementing RETs, countries may be able to spread clean electricity to those who do not have any electricity. It will also help environmental health worldwide as decreases in fossil fuel consumption will directly affect climate change. This relates back to the UN sustainable development goals.
- For future research, we recommend looking at specific policies in each country and whether or not it provides some form of equity among people. We believe that more research is necessary as to how and who benefits from these energy sources as Burundi is a violent and unstable country whereas Iceland is a high-income and stable country.
Results and Implications
- Through analysis of what socio-economic shortcomings have been addressed in these contexts, other countries in similar income ranges can see validity of RET use
- By drawing parallels across income range, we can present RET use as a viable solution across a variety of shortcomings
- Our team hypothesizes that the relationship between RET contractors and governments is widely varied, our research could inform legislation that would ensure distribution of RET wealth
Iceland Landscape Burundi Landscape
Poster
Bibliography:
Hreinsson, Egill Benedikt. “Renewable Energy Resources in Iceland – Environmental Policy and Economic Value,” 2008, 10
RISE. “Regulatory Indicators for Sustainable Energy (RISE) 2016 Country Data - Burundi.” RISE, n.d.
“Renewable Energy in Burundi.” Fortune of Africa Burundi (blog). 2014, Accessed November 26, 2018. https://fortuneofafrica.com/burundi/renewable-energy-in-burundi/.
Uvin, Peter. “Ethnicity and Power in Burundi and Rwanda: Different Paths to Mass Violence.” Comparative Politics 31, no. 3 (1999): 253–71. https://doi.org/10.2307/422339.
Hreinsson, Egill Benedikt. “Renewable Energy Resources in Iceland – Environmental Policy and Economic Value,” 2008, 10
RISE. “Regulatory Indicators for Sustainable Energy (RISE) 2016 Country Data - Burundi.” RISE, n.d.
“Renewable Energy in Burundi.” Fortune of Africa Burundi (blog). 2014, Accessed November 26, 2018. https://fortuneofafrica.com/burundi/renewable-energy-in-burundi/.
Uvin, Peter. “Ethnicity and Power in Burundi and Rwanda: Different Paths to Mass Violence.” Comparative Politics 31, no. 3 (1999): 253–71. https://doi.org/10.2307/422339.