The lack of electricity in rural areas and cities, in developing countries is one of the main causes for the delay in their economic and social development, when compared with developed countries. A recent trend, with a prospect of continue growth, is the use of renewable energies to satisfy populations’ energy needs. For developing countries, it can close their development gap, in a sustainable manner, thus surpassing a stage of growth that all the developed countries went through – industrialization. The present dissertation aims to analyse in which way off-grid solar systems enterprises, that operate in rural regions of developing countries, can create sustainable development. By analysing specific and innovative strategies, and business models tailored to the needs of the markets at the bottom of the pyramid. The first part, the literature review, has the purpose of analysing the problems of electricity shortage in the world, the role and growth of renewable energy, in particular off-grid solar systems, and the correspondent different dimensions required for its sustainability through innovative business models. It is then followed by a case study of an enterprise, Off-Grid Electric, operating in Tanzania, where it is analysed how different innovative strategies created and adopted by the company are customised to the market conditions of one of the poorest countries in the world.
Date of Award | 13 Jul 2017 |
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Original language | English |
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Awarding Institution | - Universidade Católica Portuguesa
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Supervisor | Susana Frazão Ferreira Fernandes Pinheiro (Supervisor) |
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- Mestrado em Gestão e Administração de Empresas
Off-Grid Solar Systems Enterprises in rural areas of developing countries: the case of Tanzania
Duarte, L. V. S. (Student). 13 Jul 2017
Student thesis: Master's Thesis