Lessons Along the Project Cycle - Revision history

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← Older revision		Revision as of 14:00, 10 August 2026
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−	[[File:Lessons-Learned-project-cycle.png\|right]]What are the key factors for ensuring the sustainability of energy interventions aimed at strengthening rural livelihoods? Over the last decade, the WISIONS initiative has supported community-based projects applying diverse renewable energy solutions within rural contexts in many different countries. We have learned lessons from these experiences in the field – both through our own research and by promoting reflection and mutual learning with and between local energy practitioners. This wealth of knowledge is available in various publications and resource materials and this article provides a concise summary of some of our key findings. It is structured along the general project cycle of energy interventions: from the planning phase of a project or programme to the end of life of the installed energy systems.	+	[[File:Lessons-Learned-project-cycle.png\|right]]
		+
		+	== Introduction ==
		+	What are the key factors for ensuring the sustainability of energy interventions aimed at strengthening rural livelihoods? Over the last decade, the WISIONS initiative has supported community-based projects applying diverse renewable energy solutions within rural contexts in many different countries. We have learned lessons from these experiences in the field – both through our own research and by promoting reflection and mutual learning with and between local energy practitioners. This wealth of knowledge is available in various publications and resource materials and this article provides a concise summary of some of our key findings. It is structured along the general project cycle of energy interventions: from the planning phase of a project or programme to the end of life of the installed energy systems.

	==Conception==		==Conception==

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 ==End of Life ==
 Finally, energy provision requires the installation of diverse types of technical components – all of which have a limited operating life. An important issue to consider is what should happen to those components once they have reached their “end of life” to ensure the overall sustainability of energy access interventions. This is not a new topic, but it still lacks the attention it deserves. We must also admit that this issue has so far not gotten enough attention in the projects supported by WISIONS.
-[[File:Lessons-Learned-project-cycle.png|alt=|right]]
 There are two main general approaches to consider:

@@ Line 79: / Line 79: @@
 ==End of Life ==
 Finally, energy provision requires the installation of diverse types of technical components – all of which have a limited operating life. An important issue to consider is what should happen to those components once they have reached their “end of life” to ensure the overall sustainability of energy access interventions. This is not a new topic, but it still lacks the attention it deserves. We must also admit that this issue has so far not gotten enough attention in the projects supported by WISIONS.
+[[File:Lessons-Learned-project-cycle.png|alt=|right]]
-There are two main general approaches to consider:[[File:Lessons-Learned-project-cycle.png|alt=]]
+There are two main general approaches to consider:
 *Supporting the establishment of appropriate recycling systems in the countries where the uptake of decentralised renewable energy technologies is increasing;

@@ Line 78: / Line 78: @@
 ==End of Life ==
-Finally, energy provision requires the installation of diverse types of technical components – all of which have a limited operating life. An important issue to consider is what should happen to those components once they have reached their “end of life” to ensure the overall sustainability of energy access interventions. This is not a new topic, but it still lacks the attention it deserves. We must also admit that this issue has so far not gotten enough attention in the projects supported by WISIONS. There are two main general approaches to consider:
+Finally, energy provision requires the installation of diverse types of technical components – all of which have a limited operating life. An important issue to consider is what should happen to those components once they have reached their “end of life” to ensure the overall sustainability of energy access interventions. This is not a new topic, but it still lacks the attention it deserves. We must also admit that this issue has so far not gotten enough attention in the projects supported by WISIONS.
 *Supporting the establishment of appropriate recycling systems in the countries where the uptake of decentralised renewable energy technologies is increasing;
 *Promoting the application of circularity by design in the value chains of decentralised renewable energy technologies.
 [[Category:WISIONS of Sustainability]]
 [[Category:Lessons Learned]]

@@ Line 82: / Line 82: @@
 *Supporting the establishment of appropriate recycling systems in the countries where the uptake of decentralised renewable energy technologies is increasing;
 *Promoting the application of circularity by design in the value chains of decentralised renewable energy technologies.
 [[Category:WISIONS of Sustainability]]
 [[Category:Lessons Learned]]

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 <u>Further reading:</u>
 *[https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:bsz:wup4-opus-68179 The diffusion of sustainable family farming practices in Colombia: an emerging social-technical niche?], in: Sustainability Science, Volume 13, 2018, Pages 829-847
-*'''''Webinar: Setting the Scene – maximizing the impacts of energy access on people’s development opportunities'''''
+*'''''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52fNTwifYjM Webinar: Setting the Scene – maximizing the impacts of energy access on people’s development opportunities]'''''
 ==Design==
@@ Line 21: / Line 21: @@
 <u>Further reading:</u>
-*'''''How effective are small-scale energy interventions in developing countries? Results from a post-evaluation on project-level''''', In: Applied Energy; Volume 135, 15 December 2014, Pages 809-814
+*[https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0306261914005273 How effective are small-scale energy interventions in developing countries? Results from a post-evaluation on project-level], In: Applied Energy; Volume 135, 15 December 2014, Pages 809-814
 *[http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1364032114006133?via%3Dihub#s0065 A cross-sectional review: Impacts and sustainability of small-scale renewable energy projects in developing countries], In: Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews; Volume 40, December 2014, Pages 1-10

@@ Line 56: / Line 56: @@
 *[http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0973082618316703?via%3Dihub Rural electrification with household wind systems in remote high wind regions], In: Energy for Sustainable Development; Volume 52, October 2019, Pages 154-175
-*'''''Understanding the diffusion of domestic biogas technologies. Systematic conceptualisation of existing evidence from developing and emerging countries''''', In: Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews; Volume 74, July 2017, Pages 1287-1299
+*[https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1364032116308280 Understanding the diffusion of domestic biogas technologies. Systematic conceptualisation of existing evidence from developing and emerging countries], In: Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews; Volume 74, July 2017, Pages 1287-1299
 ==Drawing Benefits from Energy Access==

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 <u>Further reading:</u>
-*[http://www.nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:bsz:wup4-opus-71252 Productive use of energy – Pathway to development? Reviewing the outcomes and impacts of small-scale energy projects in the global south], In: Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews; Volume 96, November 2018, Pages 198-209
+*[https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1364032118305252 Productive use of energy – Pathway to development? Reviewing the outcomes and impacts of small-scale energy projects in the global south], In: Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews; Volume 96, November 2018, Pages 198-209
 *[https://www.doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2018.06.045 Impact pathways of small-scale energy projects in the global south – Findings from a systematic evaluation], Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Volume 95, November 2018, Pages 84-94