Knowledge management mapping and gap analysis in renewable energy: Towards a sustainable framework in developing countries

This paper presents a mapping of knowledge management in renewable energy (RE) promoted through international and regional organizations with emphasis on gap analysis for the purpose of increasing RE deployment in developing countries. The knowledge mapping showed that most efforts are focused on RE information sharing and awareness raising, followed by policy assistance and technology transfer. Priorities seem vague with minimal close implementation, coordination, and evaluation whereby technology transfer and capacity building efforts do not always cater to the needs of benefiting countries with a lack of specialized RE financial mechanisms that provide incentives for countries to invest in RE. Equally significant, limited efforts are discerned about joint research initiatives with a slow progress towards standardization and certification of RE technologies. A general framework is proposed with a definition of short, medium and long-term undertakings towards increased RE penetration in developing countries. The profile of well-positioned organizations to adopt such a framework is identified on the basis of a SWOT analysis. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.