sara walton “lighting in vanuatu: understanding rapid technological change.”
TRANSCRIPT
Lighting in Vanuatu: understanding rapid technological change
Dr. Sara Walton and Dr. Rebecca Ford
With thanks to: David Swete-Kelly, Dr. Adam DoeringDr. Cle-Anne Gabriel
From this...
... to this!
Polack, 2010
Electrification in Vanuatu
AusAID project objectives
Remove existing barriers to enable a rapid transition from kerosene to solar LED lighting in Vanuatu
– Distribute a minimum of 24,000 solar lamps
– Raise awareness of pico‐solar products
– Establish a network of distribution/sale channels
– Build a viable and sustainable solar industry
The report research questions
• How has the technological shift from Lighting Vanuatuproject been enabled?
• What are the (socio-political) conditions that have made the shift
• Can the Energy Cultures framework help to make sense of the impacts arising from the shift in lighting technology?
Data triangulation
Holistic Approach
Secondary sources
Surveys
Interviews and focus
groups
The mission
14 days of field work in Vanuatu
Research methods
• Enumerators– Training
– Implications for the data generation
• Stakeholder interviews– NGOs, World Bank, ED
etc
• Villages– Focus group
– Individual interviews
– Talk with the Chief
Torba
PenamaSanma
Malampa
Shefa
Tafea
Data generated & analysed
• Survey – not carried out by us, data patchy
• Interviews – key stakeholders, NGOs, Villagers with solar lights, solar businesses
• Focus groups – in the villages –whoever is around and available. Some very big!
• Observations in the field – constantly meeting people and asking them about lighting, visiting shops, watching and talking to people in the villages.
Material culture
PracticesNorms
Supply-side subsidy for NGOs (ACTIV and VANREPA)
Material culture
PracticesNorms
Supply-side subsidy for NGOs (ACTIV and VANREPA)
Communication and circulation
Multiple (and informal) distribution networks
Material culture
PracticesNorms
Supply-side subsidy for NGOs (ACTIV and VANREPA)
Pico lights adoption
Communication and circulation
Multiple (and informal) distribution networks
Support for existing practices
- easier to use
Material culture
PracticesNorms
Supply-side subsidy for NGOs (ACTIV and VANREPA)
Pico lights adoption
Communication and circulation
Multiple (and informal) distribution networks
Support for existing practices
- easier to use- better light - safer light
Material culture
PracticesNorms
Supply-side subsidy for NGOs (ACTIV and VANREPA)
Pico lights adoption
Communication and circulation
Multiple (and informal) distribution networks
Support for existing practices
- easier to use- better light - safer light
Support new practices
- Study at night- Work at night
New practices
Material culture
PracticesNorms
Supply-side subsidy for NGOs (ACTIV and VANREPA)
Pico lights adoption
Communication and circulation
Multiple (and informal) distribution networks
Support for existing practices
- easier to use- better light - safer light
Support new practices
- Study at night- Work at night
New practices
High/increasing price of kerosene and rural electricity
Social norming
Visibility at night & when charging
Marketing
Social norming
Visibility at night & when charging
Material culture
PracticesNorms
Supply-side subsidy for NGOs (ACTIV and VANREPA)
Pico lights adoption
Communication and circulation
Multiple (and informal) distribution networks
New practices
New norms
If we had to go back to kerosene we would be embarrassed
If we see someone using kerosene we laugh, it’s like they’re stuck in the past.
What else but solar!
Support for existing practices
- easier to use- better light - safer light
Support new practices
- Study at night- Work at night
High/increasing price of kerosene and rural electricity Marketing
Material culture
PracticesNorms
Supply-side subsidy for NGOs (ACTIV and VANREPA)
Pico lights adoption
Communication and circulation
Multiple (and informal) distribution networks
New practices
New norms Aspirations
Social norming
Visibility at night & when charging
Support for existing practices
- easier to use- better light - safer light
Support new practices
- Study at night- Work at night
High/increasing price of kerosene and rural electricity Marketing
Practices
Material culture
Norms
Pico solar lights
Expectations
Solar technologies
Supply-side subsidy for NGOs (ACTIV and VANREPA)
Expectations and
aspirations
Existing and new
practices
Multiple distribution networks
Communication
Communication and circulation
Everyday household tasks easier
Greater freedom to use, eg walking at night
Children using lamps
New evening practices e.g. Womens weaving; homework
Use of energy no longer monitored
Easy & safer to operate
Supporting social interactions, fishing, etc at night
Less need to engage in cash economy
Isi nomo
Aspirations for more solar
“Free” energy normed (cf costly kerosene)
Aversion to kerosene
Solar expectations
Multiple lights in homes
Investment in other solar energy technologies
New technology and business
Implications
• This was a rapid energy transition brought about by a number of factors not least the ability to draw upon informal cultural networks to disseminate knowledge of the lights and the material good themselves. Using the EC has enabled an understanding of the factors and the interactions of the factors in this transition. Plus delving further into some of the socio-political and economic contexts further enabled an examination of the factors in considerable depth.
• In addition to the depth of analysis using the Energy Cultures approach has enabled a breadth of analysis. There are a variety of factors that have been considered and explored in the process of understanding the transition. Examining from this holistic perspective develops big picture type thinking and means that the unintended consequences can be considered as part of the framing. The result then builds a picture of the systems (social, economic etc.) around the transitions and helps make sense of the interactions of the various elements creating a rich understanding of the dynamics of a complex process.
