Towards a Framework of Clean Energy Technology Receptivity (draft 8)

Technology invention, innovation and transfer have been a constant of human evolution. Technologies have been transferred through a variety of means including from trade to theft, leaving history littered with successful and unsuccessful examples of technology transfer through a variety of means. Facing humanity is an unprecedented threat of anthropogenic climate change, the solution to which is to reduce the rate at which greenhouse gasses are building up in our atmosphere and deal with the impacts of climate variability and change. Such an intervention requires a change of both technology and behaviour that reduces the greenhouse gas emissions intensity of energy services. Meanwhile, the development agenda shaped by the Millennium Development Goals to reduce poverty, is gaining buy-in. So the question is, how will the accelerated receipt of cleaner energy technologies be successfully achieved in marginalised communities in developing countries? The paper considers a range of drivers, case studies and projects, that are being undertaken as early Clean Development Mechanism experiments under the banner of the international South South North Group. It discusses the drivers of technology transfer and starts to unpack the elements of successful ownership of the technologies. The paper considers ownership of hardware, software (process) and orgware (institutions) required to advance the diffusion and use of Environmentally Safe Technologies (ESTs) for the provision of energy services. It presents an approach to project selection and development under South South North which attempts to secure successful ownership and receipt of classes of technology that provide services essential for development.