PARTNERS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM
The University of Edinburgh, an internationally renowned centre of academic excellence, works with PISCES through two of its research institutes.
The Institute for Energy Systems (IES) has a long involvement with energy and environment related projects in developing countries, including PhD studies of environmental and social impacts of hydro projects. It has active awards in renewable energy research totalling £17M+. IES co-hosts the UK Energy Research Centre, with responsibility for the 'Future Sources of Energy' theme; and conducts road-mapping on R&D requirements for future energy technologies.
The Centre of African Studies (CAS) is an internationally recognised centre of excellence in research on Africa, with expertise in Science and Technology policy, ICT for development, and technology transfer. The Centre for South Asian Studies (CSAS) also researches social impacts of technology, and both centres have a history of working with DFID. Their expertise is complemented by the Science Studies Unit, the Institute for the Study of Science, Technology and Innovation, the Research Centre for the Social Sciences and the Centre for the Study of Environmental Change and Sustainability.
KEY ACTIVITIES AND IMPACT
The UoE is responsible for embedding cross cutting themes into all PISCES activities. These include capacity building, research into use, south-south-north, and equity/gender.
As part of the capacity strengthening work, PISCES has a number of postgraduate students undertaking research at the University of Edinburgh and the University of Dar es Salaam. Edinburgh MSc students’ participation in fieldwork with partners in India, Tanzania, Kenya and Sri Lanka has been inspirational to the student body and has strengthened links between partners.
Some key impacts to date are:
- - New MSc Programmes in Science, Technology and Development, and in Africa and International Development;
- E-learning PG diploma in Science, Technology and International Development launched in Jan 2010;
- Edinburgh’s Sustainable Energy Systems MSc has a bioenergy component for all fifty-eight students, contributed by PISCES staff.
- From 2008 to 2011 twenty MSc students graduated from UoE and UDSM with dissertations relevant to PISCES activities;
- Eighteen MSc dissertations relevant to PISCES are in progress/just completed;
- Eight of these have involved fieldwork with local partners;
- Twelve PhD dissertations are in progress.
In addition, PISCES staff at UoE has developed close links with the UK Biochar Centre located in Edinburgh.
PRACTICAL ACTION CONSULTING UK
Practical Action Consulting (PAC) has been using technology to challenge poverty for over 40 years. With offices in the UK, Nepal, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Peru and Sri Lanka, PAC is the consultancy arm of the development charity Practical Action.
Practical Action and PAC build on the philosophy of “small is beautiful” laid by their founder, E. F Schumacher, in their approach to technological solutions. PAC work with institutions, civil society and poor isolated communities in rural and urban locations to achieve sustainable solutions and improvements in livelihoods.
The offices of PAC UK, South Asia (Sri Lanka) and East Africa (Kenya) are all partners in the PISCES project.
KEY ACTIVITIES AND IMPACT
PAC lead on the Access and Delivery theme of the PISCES project. The focus of this theme is to better define what Bioenergy Delivery Models are and how they can be useful in increasing the access to, and delivery of, the sustainable supply of bioenergy. This is being carried out through the development of an online tool to increase the understanding of Delivery Models and through highlighting the Delivery Models of successful bioenergy pilot projects, to ensure they can be more effectively scaled-up.
This work will help policy makers, governments and energy project managers to map what financing, capacity development and incentives may be needed to kick start sustainable and pro-poor bioenergy markets. PISCES uses a Participatory Market Mapping (PMM) approach that involves all the energy stakeholders at all the levels of the value chain, to ensure that everyone’s experiences and expectations are taken into account when planning and delivering bioenergy initiatives.
PAC UK Key Projects:
Energy Delivery Model Tool: This was developed in response to the challenge faced by many governments and energy professionals of how to get energy to the user through the most appropriate and effective channels. The tool highlights compatible and non-compatible options linking management, maintenance and financing models to various energy types, uses and delivery systems. The user can also create a market map to highlight some of the key market actors, supporting services and market environment factors that are necessary to consider in order to effectively deliver the energy. The purpose of the Energy Delivery Model Tool is to allow energy project designers to see possible structures and to plan strategies for effectively delivering energy projects for poverty reduction.
Small Scale Bioenergy Initiatives: This joint FAO-PISCES publication was led by PAC UK. It features 15 international bioenergy case studies focussing on the link between livelihoods and small-scale bioenergy initiatives. Research involved field visits, surveys, existing literature reviews, interviews and workshops, as well as drawing upon previous research and contributions. The studies use a Market Systems approach with Market Mapping.