The transition to a low-carbon, resource efficient and green economy can only be made by developing the right skills, knowledge, and competencies. Such skills can be defined as “the knowledge, abilities, values and attitudes needed to live in, develop and support a sustainable and resource-efficient society”. In countries that rely...
The Chiansi area in Zambia is characterised by poverty and underutilization of available resources. The water that could transform the livelihoods of subsistence farmers flows nearby in the Kafue River, but the cost of the irrigation system infrastructure that could make this water available to small-scale farmers is high and...
Iowa continues to be a largely rural state dominated by agriculture and associated industries, and is the largest producer of corn in the US. Its strengths in the renewable energy sector are abundant land, specialisation in the intensive production of corn for energy, and a good wind resource, combined with...
Maine and Vermont have high energy costs and no fossil fuel resources, which have led to the early development of renewable energy, including hydroelectric energy generation. Maine’s renewable energy policies and associated funding have been largely focused on wind energy generation and developing projects while Vermont has chosen instead to...
Oregon covers a vast territory that is well endowed with natural resources, supporting early specialisation in the energy sector. This case study has a specific focus on Wallowa County, which is a predominantly rural region at the eastern edge of the state. Renewable energy policy in Wallowa County has aimed...
Tennessee’s rivers have helped make it one of the top hydroelectric power producers east of the Rocky Mountains, with many hydroelectric power plants located along the Cumberland and Tennessee River systems. It is also a major nuclear power producer. In Tennessee the best opportunity for expanding employment from renewable energy...
China's consumption of the world's resources is reaching crisis levels. Unchecked, such levels of consumption and waste would strain the nation and the planet. To prevent the worst scenario, the country is taking action. For the past decade, China has led the world in promoting the recirculation of waste materials...
Friesland’s RE policy is one response to the challenges posed by an ageing population, the unsustainability of the agriculture sector, poor economic competitiveness and the need for more high-skilled employment. The Friesland government has developed a three-pronged economic agenda based on energy, water and recreation. The two primary targets are...
Troms County is experimenting with different renewable energy technologies instead of picking a single “winner”. There have been several demonstration projects linked to different renewable energy technologies in the county.
The report finds out three main points: i) In Norway, incentives to renewable energy mostly target R&D and demonstration projects...
Hydropower, biomass, and wind dominate the regional energy profile in Middle Norrland. Regional specialisation in energy is mirrored by the presence of locally-owned utilities, which provide the Middle Norrland economy with cheap energy and ancillary services.
The report has three main findings: i) Local communities can benefit from renewable energy...