The main goal of master thesis is to proof that investment into renewable energy may have a positive impact on standard of living for local community and the region of Sub-Saharan Africa. The thesis is divided into three main chapters, while the first one is dedicated to detailed analysis of renewable energies, demographic and geographical indicators, the second one is focused on investment and financing of energy projects. The last chapter leads readers through case study of small hydropower plant into findings that are essential in proving the main idea of whole thesis.

Es kann davon ausgegangen werden, dass sich die Erdbevölkerung bis Ende dieses Jahrhunderts verdoppeln wird. Der Energiebedarf wird sehr wahrscheinlich um mehr als das Doppelte steigen, da der Bevölkerungszuwachs ausschließlich in Entwicklungsländern stattfindet, wo bekanntlich ein erheblicher Bedarf an Energie besteht. Die Prognosen gehen daher von einer Zunahme der Energie aus, die unseren heutigen Verbrauch um das 2- bis 3- Fache übersteigt. Vor dem Hintergrund, dass die Energieoptionen – Rohöl, Erdgas, Uran – in diesem Jahrhundert nahezu aufgebraucht sein werden, gewinnen zunehmend die erneuerbaren Energien an Bedeutung. Die Wasserkraft ist dabei weltweit die bedeutendste regenerative Energiequelle. Die Planungen sehen vor, dass sich die Wasserkraftnutzung bis zum Jahr 2050 verdoppeln wird. / It can be expected that the world population will double by the end of this century. The energy demand will very probably increase even more significantly, as the population is increasing exclusively in the developing countries, where an extreme energy demand is already known to exist. Three to four times the present energy demand is predicted. When it is considered that crude oil, natural gas and uranium resources will be practically exhausted during the coming century, renewable energies become more and more important. Hydropower is worldwide the leading renewable energy source. It is planned to double the use of hydropower by the year 2050.

As the UK energy sector moves to a greater contribution from low-carbon and renewable sources it faces significant challenges in delivering affordability, security of supply and sustainability. Although hydropower in Scotland emerged on a large scale in the mid-20th century against an influential, changing wider context of energy policy, environmental regulation and debate, it is now subject to an evolving renewables agenda. This further shapes the national and scheme level characteristics of hydropower and in turn outcomes for the water environment. Contingent upon these considerations, hydropower regulation must now deliver on EU obligations to protect and improve the ecological status of water bodies, whilst also supporting domestic efforts to meet high profile binding renewable energy targets. Yet, despite an acknowledged potential for energy policy to constrain the delivery of water policy objectives, there is little policy harmonisation between disciplines. As Scotland orientates itself as a leader in Europe on climate change, transitioning to increasing amounts of renewable generation across a handful of technologies, there is a gap in knowledge about how specific renewable policies and trends can influence hydropower sustainability outcomes and regulatory challenges. This thesis therefore contributes an innovative and timely critical examination of the effect a changing wider renewable energy and policy context has on hydropower sustainability in Scotland, at a scheme and national level. This research uses an interdisciplinary, temporal analysis to identify linkages and create dialogue between disciplines and scales, informing the pursuit of sustainable renewable energy through policy and regulation in a changing world. It finds firstly, that the changing national generation mix towards an increased contribution from renewable sources, including potentially intermittent technologies such as wind power, has contributed to an alteration in the operational characteristics and reservoir variability profile of Cruachan pumped-storage scheme, presenting positive outcomes for reservoir littoral habitats. Secondly, it finds that whilst not operating in isolation, renewable energy incentive policies, through their eligibility criteria, financial reward frameworks and timing, influence hydropower characteristics and sustainability challenges, providing trade-offs but also synergies for hydropower regulation. Finally, it finds that there is a degree of divergence in hydropower outcomes and challenges in Scotland and Norway, due to the characteristics and especially interaction of wider contextual elements such as topography, profile of precipitation input, national energy needs and the role of regional and municipal government. By highlighting these linkages, this thesis is of value to energy policy and environmental regulation in Scotland and across the EU, and is seen as a first step in addressing these uncertainties and supporting a more integrated and sustainable hydropower and renewables governance framework.