Konferensartikel

The impacts of technologies on sustainability have to be assessed through structured approaches to provide decision-makers with strategic information. Traditional technology assessment methods can be complex and highly resource intensive with long lead times; consequently; the applications of these methods are limited; especially in Africa. Where these methods have been applied; the conclusions that are generated are also not always effectively communicated; which leads to limited buy-in from stakeholders. The paper therefore proposes a generic rapid technology assessment framework and implementation process that utilises a popular method that has been modified to include sustainability factors and a systems approach; while remaining simple and intuitive: the Sustainable Technology Balance Sheet (STBS). The method addresses technology assessment from a qualitative view by including sustainability criteria developed through stakeholder engagement and technical factors through expert opinion; while inducing a life cycle approach to ensure system awareness. A case study approach; using a bioenergy value chain; is used to demonstrate the developed STBS method.

Sustainability assessment; technology assessment; Africa