ABSTRACT
The review of socioeconomic aspects of biomass and other renewable technologies, including economic evaluation methodologies and selected results, brings out several important issues. The environmental effects of alternative energy sources need to be given more emphasis in planning and project evaluation. Many studies have focused on various socioeconomic aspects of renewable energy technologies (RET)—for example production costs, employment, income distribution, environmental impact—but frequently these aspects are analysed separately. The attention given to environmental effects and potential improvements in crop yields that depend on technology are also innovations worthy of attention. The incorporation of environmental costs and benefits in economic evaluations will help improve the comparative ranking of small-scale rural-oriented RETs as well as improved stoves in urban and semi-urban areas. Environmental performance indicators are much less objective and therefore require more qualification. Energy and environmental problems in rural areas affect women and men differently because of role differences.
