Traditional technology assessment methods can be complex and highly resource intensive with long lead times;. NSF National Science Foundation OTA Office of Technology Assessment PIA Privacy Impact Assessments PPP Public-Private Partnership.
Background
- Introduction: The Sustainable Development problem
- Rationale for the study
- Technology Assessment to improve strategies for Sustainable Development
- Sustainability Assessment to improve strategies for Sustainable Development
- Research problem
- Research objectives
- Research structure
These drivers become very visible within the Technology Assessment methodologies and form the cornerstone of the proposed logical frameworks. Investigate the use of the new STBS framework applied to renewable energy technology as a solution for sustainable development.
Literature review
The history and development of TA
This requires TA to devote a large, serious and creative effort to the creation of political possibilities.” (Berg, 1976). Palm (2006) also comments that technology assessment is resource-intensive and that the quality of the output seems to be proportional to the financial resources available.
Technology assessment models and methodologies
This determines the relationship between the four factors through the interrelated nature of the factors (De Wet as cited in Grover and Pretorius, 2008). Therefore the sustainability of technologies in TBS can be introduced using the principles or criteria used to assess environmental, social and economic sustainability.
Sustainability
A major obstacle of the method was to overcome the difficulty of understanding theoretical requirements and the uncertainties they create. Musango and Brent (2010) indicated that the assessment of technological sustainability is limited and that most studies do not assess the sustainability of the technology per se.
The conceptual framework
Assessment framework objectives
Generate rapid assessments, using qualitative assessments and expert opinions to quickly focus strategies for further and more thorough research and thus focus on providing strategic direction and effective communication. Focus on qualitative data gleaned from past experience and expert opinion tempered by stakeholder involvement.
Further research insights
A fast and simplified approach that uses widely used methods such as matrices while limiting exposure to highly technical methods. This process can take the form of a workshop approach, similar to other workshop-based studies, such as the process undertaken for technology roadmapping.
Sustainable Technology Balance Sheet framework and Implementation process
- Understanding the conceptual framework
- Understanding the logic and method
- Developing the framework
This is done for each component of the value chain, indicated by the dashed rings in Figure 3.8. Development of a unique value chain or life cycle for interested technologies of a particular sector. These criteria then act as market drivers for sustainability within the STBS market factor.
This is the backbone of the technology sustainability assessment process and the cornerstone to which all other factors within the STBS relate. A superstructure can be generated for each of the lifecycle components (Ayoub et al. 2009), e.g. The data required to complete the technology, process and product factors of the STBS is produced during the creation of the specific life cycle and the evaluation of the components that make up this value chain.
These components of the value chain consist of inputs, processes and outputs, which are used to fill the factors in STBS.
Research design and methodology
- Introduction
- Research strategy
- Conceptualising the Case Study approach
- Critical analysis of the proposed research methodology
However, once the conclusions were formulated, they were formally and informally presented to a diverse group of stakeholders and experts to assist in the development process, and this was done in an iterative manner to provide feedback and evolution of the methodology, as well as to introduced a better understanding of the proposed framework by all members of the focus group. Thus, all these actions lead to the identification of new meanings, new models, different interpretations and new solutions for the structure of the proposed framework. Finally, a formal presentation of the proposed STBS tool was made during a workshop for stakeholders including DWAF members, at which time further input was provided.
This was then finally presented to all stakeholders as a final assessment of how well the framework addresses the objectives through the implementation of the action points. Feedback from the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF) was a critical concern as they form the main stakeholder or client for the proposed framework within the context of the case study, so it is critical to understand whether the framework meets the needs of DWAF as a policy maker involved in an industrial project in the form of PPP. The second concern faced with the case study is how to prove generalizability which can only be achieved through replication of the study within multiple investigations.
The perceived benefits of the case study approach for this study relate to the investigation of contemporary phenomena within a real-life context which therefore provides understanding of a specific institution as well as laying the foundation for generalization (Yin, 1994).
Results
The thinking around the technology factor
The thinking around the process/capabilities
As the framework synthesis process began, it became clear that of the three modification strategies toward sustainability, one needed to be singled out and developed further. Modifying the structure to include a frame extension in which sustainability can be addressed while keeping the original framework's functionality and factors intact. Retaining the original framework in its entirety, but shifting the focus of the framework to meet new needs.
While the original TBS met TA requirements, it lacked in certain areas such as sustainability, which it was thought could be overcome by a simple paradigm shift. These new inputs will have the desired effects on outcomes, retaining some of the intent of the original framework while creating an entirely new set of outcomes consistent with sustainability. An aspect of life cycle thinking also emerged during the research and it was highlighted that this would add value to TBS, as the process of tracing the life cycle value chain provides an orderly view of the various technology subsets and their impact on the overall performance of the system.
This approach also aids in technology assessment by identifying technologies that may otherwise have been overlooked, thereby improving the rigor of the TBS.
The case studies
Lucingweni mini grid case study
- The technical aspects
- Sustainability criteria
Most of the relevant data were available and generated using similar procedures as required by the STBS. Any quantitative or qualitative means can be used according to the requirements of the stakeholders involved. However, there was a problem that arose due to the change in the original technology balance sheet.
It was felt that a disconnect from the original relationship had occurred within the Process vs. As one can see, both of the factors are not related to each other, but both are directly related to the Technological Process Factor within the STBS. This occurred mainly as a result of the modification of the individual matrices which ultimately affected the flow and logic of the STBS as a unified assessment framework.
The only weak link within the STBS was still found at the interface of the product requirement factor and the sustainability criteria.
Introduction to the Working for Energy case study
- Sustainability criteria: Working for Energy
- The proposed sustainability criteria for the STBS
- The technical criteria
In March 2001, WfW investigated a possible extension of the VAI development project and concluded that VAI could have a significant impact in two main areas, namely small business initiatives and larger so-called industrial initiatives. A further advantage of the jobs that could be created through the implementation of the Industrial Initiatives Project was that it would be largely created in the rural areas of the country. These sources included DWAF's internal working documents, which expressed both the sentiments of the original Working for Water project as well as all the new requirements of the Working for Energy project.
The evaluation of these documents for STBS provided a general better understanding of the relevance or omission of the sustainability criteria that followed. The only shortcoming in the value chain/life cycle technical assessment is detected as the secondary production component, where only two process technologies are discussed, namely combustion to produce a biochar product. charcoal) and the production of wood chips, which are used either as fertilizer or as a component product for compression and further combustion (DWAF, 2008). It was therefore deemed necessary to include a general overview of the relevant technologies found in the various components of the established value chain in relation to the prescribed system and its formalized boundaries with a particular focus on the secondary production value chain component.
As all, from a process point of view, are quite the same and part of the same process chain, each just different at what temperature and at what point in the treatment, it happens.
The invasive alien plants STBS
Within the ―Call for EOI‖ document, the WfE group clearly indicated their understanding of the relevant components, which form the project value chain. Step three can be summarized again as the understanding of the STBS improved with each implementation process carried out. Technological process forms the backbone of the technology to be assessed and indicates the conversion process and the intrinsic technology used.
These are specific technical criteria that apply only to a specific component of the value chain, which is included as part of the sustainability criteria factors. The synergies between STBS and MCDA become quite apparent as STBS facilitates the initial stages of MCDA, thereby reducing the time and collaboration required by MCDA. Technical Specifications Matrix – evaluates the technological process using technical specifications to demonstrate the feasibility of various projects and technologies (Figure 5.8).
Matrix of sustainability criteria - evaluates products that are an integral part of the technological process and sustainability criteria that relate to sustainability.
Conclusions and recommendations
Within the case study, a Millennium Development Goals Model for South Africa (SA) was used to describe the relationships between social, economic and energy systems, i.e. the main objective of the SA Development Goals is to halve poverty on a large scale. Brent and Rogers, 2009). Production increases revenue No changes planned for project or possible due to mini-grid failure. Sustainability criteria are a set of definitions of various factors or aspects that must be taken into account in the evaluation of technological processes.
These effects on the socio-environmental aspects of different populations should also be assessed (FBOMS, 2006). The efficiency of the technological process(es), in terms of energy, produced by the energy source. The manufacturer does not have relevant quantitative evidence of the production process (eg field behavior) of the products.
The energy plant's capacity and can be defined by: Size capacity= (the maximum energy production of the energy plant/land area that the energy plant occupies). Other welfare benefits such as improved access to transport, electricity/fuel, social structure as a result of the energy plant. The relationship between the three products related to the operating process is shown in table C.6.
