IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v13y2020i4p884-d321568.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

A SWOT Analysis of Utility-Scale Solar in Myanmar

Author

Listed:
  • Daniel del Barrio Alvarez

    (Institute for Future Initiatives, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan)

  • Masahiro Sugiyama

    (Institute for Future Initiatives, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan)

Abstract

Myanmar remains one of the few exceptions to the rapid diffusion of solar photovoltaics (PV) in power generation mixes. This is surprising considering that Myanmar is one of the countries with the largest technical potential for solar energy among Southeast Asian nations. Solar energy can complement the existing hydropower generation to address endemic energy crisis during the dry season. A continuation of paralysis on investments in solar energy could affect the security and sustainability of the sector in one of the most rapidly growing countries in the region. In this paper, we aimed to identify the barriers preventing solar energy to flourish in Myanmar and to identify policy options to unlock them. We conducted a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) analysis with inputs from relevant stakeholders from the government, private sector, and civil society organizations. Our analysis suggested a consensus on the merits of solar energy among all factors; however, a policy framework to spur investments that contribute both to the national energy system and local development needs to be developed by considering some particularities of Myanmar, such as securing rightful land ownership and limited experience with market mechanisms (e.g., energy auction), for the promotion of investments in the energy sector.

Suggested Citation

  • Daniel del Barrio Alvarez & Masahiro Sugiyama, 2020. "A SWOT Analysis of Utility-Scale Solar in Myanmar," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-17, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:13:y:2020:i:4:p:884-:d:321568
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/13/4/884/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/13/4/884/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Nguyen, Phuong Anh & Abbott, Malcolm & Nguyen, Thanh Loan T., 2019. "The development and cost of renewable energy resources in Vietnam," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 59-66.
    2. Shi, Xunpeng, 2016. "The future of ASEAN energy mix: A SWOT analysis," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 53(C), pages 672-680.
    3. Lin Zhang & Shan Guo & Zezhou Wu & Ahmed Alsaedi & Tasawar Hayat, 2018. "SWOT Analysis for the Promotion of Energy Efficiency in Rural Buildings: A Case Study of China," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-17, April.
    4. International Monetary Fund, 2018. "Myanmar: Selected Issues," IMF Staff Country Reports 2018/091, International Monetary Fund.
    5. Pode, Ramchandra & Pode, Gayatri & Diouf, Boucar, 2016. "Solution to sustainable rural electrification in Myanmar," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 107-118.
    6. Anna, Petrenko, 2016. "Мaркування готової продукції як складова частина інформаційного забезпечення маркетингової діяльності підприємств овочепродуктового підкомплексу," Agricultural and Resource Economics: International Scientific E-Journal, Agricultural and Resource Economics: International Scientific E-Journal, vol. 2(1), March.
    7. Pode, Ramchandra, 2016. "Potential applications of rice husk ash waste from rice husk biomass power plant," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 53(C), pages 1468-1485.
    8. Siala, Kais & Stich, Jürgen, 2016. "Estimation of the PV potential in ASEAN with a high spatial and temporal resolution," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 445-456.
    9. Chen, Wei-Ming & Kim, Hana & Yamaguchi, Hideka, 2014. "Renewable energy in eastern Asia: Renewable energy policy review and comparative SWOT analysis for promoting renewable energy in Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 319-329.
    10. Masako Numata & Masahiro Sugiyama & Gento Mogi & Wunna Swe & Venkatachalam Anbumozhi, "undated". "Technoeconomic Assessment of Microgrids in Myanmar," Working Papers DP-2018-05, Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA).
    11. Dobrotkova, Zuzana & Surana, Kavita & Audinet, Pierre, 2018. "The price of solar energy: Comparing competitive auctions for utility-scale solar PV in developing countries," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 118(C), pages 133-148.
    12. Lucas, Hugo & Fifita, Solomone & Talab, Ilham & Marschel, Cornelia & Cabeza, Luisa F., 2017. "Critical challenges and capacity building needs for renewable energy deployment in Pacific Small Island Developing States (Pacific SIDS)," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 107(C), pages 42-52.
    13. Nam, Kee-Yung & Cham, Maria Rowena & Halili, Paulo Rodelio, 2015. "Power Sector Development in Myanmar," ADB Economics Working Paper Series 460, Asian Development Bank.
    14. Elizondo Azuela, Gabriela & Barroso, Luiz & Khanna, Ashish & Wang, Xiaodong & Wu, Yun & Cunha, Gabriel, 2014. "Performance of renewable energy auctions : experience in Brazil, China and India," Policy Research Working Paper Series 7062, The World Bank.
    15. Liu, Dawei & Yamaguchi, Kensuke & Yoshikawa, Hisashi, 2017. "Understanding the motivations behind the Myanmar-China energy pipeline: Multiple streams and energy politics in China," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 107(C), pages 403-412.
    16. del Río, Pablo & Linares, Pedro, 2014. "Back to the future? Rethinking auctions for renewable electricity support," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 35(C), pages 42-56.
    17. Ismail, Abdul Muhaimin & Ramirez-Iniguez, Roberto & Asif, Muhammad & Munir, Abu Bakar & Muhammad-Sukki, Firdaus, 2015. "Progress of solar photovoltaic in ASEAN countries: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 399-412.
    18. Pascale, Andrew & Urmee, Tania & Whale, Jonathan & Kumar, S., 2016. "Examining the potential for developing women-led solar PV enterprises in rural Myanmar," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 576-583.
    19. Maw Maw Tun & Dagmar Juchelková & Helena Raclavská & Veronika Sassmanová, 2018. "Utilization of Biodegradable Wastes as a Clean Energy Source in the Developing Countries: A Case Study in Myanmar," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-20, November.
    20. Edward Halawa & Geoffrey James & Xunpeng (Roc) Shi & Novieta H. Sari & Rabindra Nepal, 2018. "The Prospect for an Australian–Asian Power Grid: A Critical Appraisal," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(1), pages 1-23, January.
    21. Nemet, Gregory F., 2006. "Beyond the learning curve: factors influencing cost reductions in photovoltaics," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 34(17), pages 3218-3232, November.
    22. Ilaria Vigna & Lorenza Bianco & Francesco Goia & Valentina Serra, 2018. "Phase Change Materials in Transparent Building Envelopes: A Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) Analysis," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(1), pages 1-19, January.
    23. Anton Eberhard & Katharine Gratwick & Elvira Morella & Pedro Antmann, 2017. "Accelerating investments in power in sub-Saharan Africa," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 2(2), pages 1-5, February.
    24. Wikus Kruger & Anton Eberhard, 2018. "Renewable energy auctions in sub‐Saharan Africa: Comparing the South African, Ugandan, and Zambian Programs," Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Energy and Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 7(4), July.
    25. Adam Simpson & Susan Park, 2013. "The Asian Development Bank as a Global Risk Regulator in Myanmar," Third World Quarterly, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 34(10), pages 1858-1871, November.
    26. Terrados, J. & Almonacid, G. & Hontoria, L., 2007. "Regional energy planning through SWOT analysis and strategic planning tools.: Impact on renewables development," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 11(6), pages 1275-1287, August.
    27. Ashish Gulagi & Dmitrii Bogdanov & Christian Breyer, 2017. "A Cost Optimized Fully Sustainable Power System for Southeast Asia and the Pacific Rim," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(5), pages 1-25, April.
    28. Janjai, Serm & Masiri, Itsara & Laksanaboonsong, Jarungsaeng, 2013. "Satellite-derived solar resource maps for Myanmar," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 53(C), pages 132-140.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Solomon E. Uhunamure & Karabo Shale, 2021. "A SWOT Analysis Approach for a Sustainable Transition to Renewable Energy in South Africa," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-18, April.
    2. Natalia Iwaszczuk & Jacek Wolak & Aleksander Iwaszczuk, 2021. "Turkmenistan’s Gas Sector Development Scenarios Based on Econometric and SWOT Analysis," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-18, May.
    3. Hyun, Suk & Taghizadeh-Hesary, Farhad & Shim, Hyoung Suk, 2021. "Modeling solar energy system demand using household-level data in Myanmar," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 629-639.
    4. Masako Numata & Masahiro Sugiyama & Wunna Swe & Daniel del Barrio Alvarez, 2021. "Willingness to Pay for Renewable Energy in Myanmar: Energy Source Preference," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-17, March.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. del Río, Pablo & Kiefer, Christoph P., 2023. "Academic research on renewable electricity auctions: Taking stock and looking forward," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 173(C).
    2. Kitzing, Lena & Siddique, Muhammad Bilal & Nygaard, Ivan & Kruger, Wikus, 2022. "Worth the wait: How South Africa's renewable energy auctions perform compared to Europe's leading countries," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 166(C).
    3. Matthäus, David, 2020. "Designing effective auctions for renewable energy support," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 142(C).
    4. Anatolitis, Vasilios & Azanbayev, Alina & Fleck, Ann-Katrin, 2022. "How to design efficient renewable energy auctions? Empirical insights from Europe," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 166(C).
    5. Sebastian Goers & Fiona Rumohr & Sebastian Fendt & Louis Gosselin & Gilberto M. Jannuzzi & Rodolfo D. M. Gomes & Stella M. S. Sousa & Reshmi Wolvers, 2020. "The Role of Renewable Energy in Regional Energy Transitions: An Aggregate Qualitative Analysis for the Partner Regions Bavaria, Georgia, Québec, São Paulo, Shandong, Upper Austria, and Western Cape," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-30, December.
    6. Kruger, Wikus & Nygaard, Ivan & Kitzing, Lena, 2021. "Counteracting market concentration in renewable energy auctions: Lessons learned from South Africa," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 148(PB).
    7. Srikkanth Ramachandran & Kais Siala & Cristina de La Rúa & Tobias Massier & Arif Ahmed & Thomas Hamacher, 2021. "Life Cycle Climate Change Impact of a Cost-Optimal HVDC Connection to Import Solar Energy from Australia to Singapore," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-23, November.
    8. Kamran, Muhammad & Fazal, Muhammad Rayyan & Mudassar, Muhammad, 2020. "Towards empowerment of the renewable energy sector in Pakistan for sustainable energy evolution: SWOT analysis," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 146(C), pages 543-558.
    9. Münch, Florian Anselm & Marian, Adela, 2022. "The design of technical requirements in public solar auctions: Evidence from India," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 154(C).
    10. Rabindra Nepal & Han Phoumin & Abiral Khatri, 2021. "Green Technological Development and Deployment in the Association of Southeast Asian Economies (ASEAN)—At Crossroads or Roundabout?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-19, January.
    11. Igliński, Bartłomiej & Iglińska, Anna & Koziński, Grzegorz & Skrzatek, Mateusz & Buczkowski, Roman, 2016. "Wind energy in Poland – History, current state, surveys, Renewable Energy Sources Act, SWOT analysis," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 19-33.
    12. Chanthawong, Anuman & Dhakal, Shobhakar, 2016. "Stakeholders' perceptions on challenges and opportunities for biodiesel and bioethanol policy development in Thailand," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 189-206.
    13. Münch, Florian Anselm & Scheifele, Fabian, 2023. "Nurturing national champions? Local content in solar auctions and firm innovation," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 179(C).
    14. Bose, A.S. & Sarkar, S., 2019. "India's e-reverse auctions (2017–2018) for allocating renewable energy capacity: An evaluation," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 762-774.
    15. Konstantinos Kokkinos & Vayos Karayannis, 2020. "Supportiveness of Low-Carbon Energy Technology Policy Using Fuzzy Multicriteria Decision-Making Methodologies," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 8(7), pages 1-26, July.
    16. Bayer, Benjamin & Berthold, Lennart & Moreno Rodrigo de Freitas, Bruno, 2018. "The Brazilian experience with auctions for wind power: An assessment of project delays and potential mitigation measures," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 122(C), pages 97-117.
    17. Shi, Xunpeng, 2016. "The future of ASEAN energy mix: A SWOT analysis," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 53(C), pages 672-680.
    18. Mukisa, Nicholas & Zamora, Ramon & Lie, Tek Tjing, 2021. "Diffusion forecast for grid-tied rooftop solar photovoltaic technology under store-on grid scheme model in Sub-Saharan Africa: Government role assessment," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 180(C), pages 516-535.
    19. Grashof, Katherina & Berkhout, Volker & Cernusko, Robert & Pfennig, Maximilian, 2020. "Long on promises, short on delivery? Insights from the first two years of onshore wind auctions in Germany," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 140(C).
    20. Lozano, Lorafe & Taboada, Evelyn B., 2021. "Elucidating the challenges and risks of rural island electrification from the end-users’ perspective: A case study in the Philippines," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 150(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:13:y:2020:i:4:p:884-:d:321568. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.