The development of the Sustainable Technology Balance Sheet: a generic technology assessment tool to assess the sustainability of renewable energy technologies.

Abstract

Solutions to sustainability problems may be achieved through the use of new technology that reduces wastes and provides development opportunities. The impacts of technologies have to be assessed in structured approaches to provide decision-makers with strategic information. Traditional technology assessment methods can be complex and highly resource intensive with long lead times; consequently, the applications of these methods are limited, especially in Africa. Where these methods have been applied, the conclusions that are generated are also not always effectively communicated, which leads to limited buy-in from stakeholders. A generic rapid technology assessment framework and implementation process is therefore proposed utilising a popular method that has been modified to include sustainability factors and a systems approach, while remaining simple and intuitive: the Sustainable Technology Balance Sheet. The method addresses technology assessment from a qualitative view by including sustainability criteria developed through stakeholder engagement and technical factors through expert opinion, while inducing a life cycle approach to ensure system awareness. The method was developed by engaging with a renewable energy case study, specifically in the rural-African context.