THE STATE OF THE ART OF GENDERED ENERGY INNOVATIONS: A STRUCTURED LITERATURE REVIEW

• Stefani van der Merwe Department of Industrial Engineering, Stellenbosch University, South Africa https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2030-3979
• Imke de Kock Department of Industrial Engineering, Stellenbosch University, South Africa http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4136-7418
• Josephine Musango School of Public Leadership, Stellenbosch University, South Africa http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9635-0002

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7166/31-3-2427

Keywords:

energy security, gendered innovation, urban poor

Abstract

The impact of restricted access to sustainable energy is the worst in vulnerable urban poor areas, and so an alternative approach to energy innovations is needed. To explore the possibilities for energy innovations, gender needs to be taken into account. This is especially relevant in the sub-Saharan African context, as most households are female-headed. This paper aims to explore the current state of gendered energy innovations by using a multivocal approach; it thus focuses on the existing body of knowledge at the gender—energy interface. The study is conducted in two parts: first, ‘state of the art’ is conceptualised using a multilevel approach; second, a structured literature review on gendered energy innovations is conducted in light of the structured understanding of ‘state of the art’. There is definitely room for new innovations to use gender as a strategy for solving energy security problems in urban poor environments.