Social Acceptance of Small-Scale Renewable Energy Projects: The Case Study of Kyrgyzstan's Small Hydropower Stations

Abstract

Periodic draughty seasons cause an electricity shortage in Kyrgyzstan, which is 90% dependent on hydropower plants (HPP). Its Soviet-time energy facilities have worn out due to the absence of proper financing for modernization. Building additional large HPPs is unbearable for Kyrgyzstan because of the high cost and opposition from the downstream countries. Small hydropower (SHP) stations are an alternative for large HPPs because of their lower cost and, thus, the possibility of being constructed by private developers. However, there is a list of obstacles and risks for private developers to invest in the SHP sector. Low tariffs for electricity, weak law enforcement, and local opposition against certain private entities are among them. This study comprehensively approaches the development problems of the SHP sector in Kyrgyzstan, encompassing all stakeholders. This research is based on a mixed methodology consisting of an ethnographic study, speech analysis, politico-legal analysis of state institutions and legal documents, semi-structured interviews with various stakeholders, and statistical analysis of data collected through a small-scale survey of the case study. The findings show that although there are strong political commitment and a favorable legal basis for the development of the SHP sector in Kyrgyzstan, low electricity tariffs, weak state institutions, absence of a domestic source of financing hinders the diffusion of SHP. Moreover, local communities directly influenced by SHP stations do not fully accept their construction in their vicinity. The reasons for such an attitude are an unfair distribution of costs and benefits and the exclusion of the locals from decision-making processes. The paternalistic logic of the state authorities and SHP developers, which results from the assumption that this type of technology is green and harmless, can cause future resistance against SHP stations. Statistical analysis revealed that environmental damage and the adverse impact of SHP stations on the main economic activities of local communities, such as agriculture and cattle breeding, negatively influence community acceptance of SHP.