Integrating Energy Planning and Techno-Economic Development: A Solid Basis for the Assessment and Transfer of Energy Technology to Developing Countries

Developing countries not only suffer from technical and technological weaknesses and underdeveloped socioeconomic systems, but also face energy shortages and inefficient energy systems. This article explains the major issues of energy systems and technology transfer to developing countries and their constraints for energy planning. It then introduces a comprehensive approach for integrating techno-economic development and energy planning, leading to a proposal of a smooth context for the assessment of candidate energy technology for underdeveloped countries. The article describes the reason for integrating development goals and energy planning within an interrelated demand-supply perspective in order to underline crucial variables (qualitative, quantitative, and knowledge-based). The analytic hierarchy process is addressed as an appropriate technique for setting energy planning goals and also for the assessment of candidate energy technology to be transferred to the Third World.