Mapping interlinkages between energy projects and the SDGs : Implementing and evaluating the Sustainable Development Goals Impact Assessment Framework for Energy Projects

Sammanfattning: Ever since the middle of the 20th century there has been an increasing demand of energy. This increased energy consumption entails the need for new energy projects in both developed and developing countries. This thesis aims to map the impact an energy project has regarding the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It is known that both small- and large-scale energy projects creates synergies and trade-offs with the SDGs and its relating targets. By implementing the framework “Sustainable Development Goals Impact Assessment Framework for Energy Projects” (SDG-IAE), this study will investigate the possible synergies and tradeoffs of four different energy projects located in Uganda, Kenya, Denmark, and Sweden. SDG-IAE qualitatively assess each energy project with a questionnaire. To conduct the questionnaire the authors held remote interviews with stakeholders involved in each of the projects. The framework’s result for the four projects differ for each project but also have both synergies and trade-offs that are in common. The result also clearly demonstrates the difference in introducing an energy project in a developed contra a developing country, as the developing countries generate more synergies that are relevant for the project and its location. However, the result also demonstrates trade-offs that are relevant to the projects regardless its location. By implementing SDG-IAE the authors reckon areas of improvement mainly regarding the phrasing and definitions of the questions in the framework’s questionnaire. Lastly, this thesis emphasizes the importance of assessing energy projects from a perspective of the SDGs and too continue develop SDG-IAE, because of its crucial role in attaining a sustainable development and to meet Agenda 2030.