South–South Technology Transfer of Low‐Carbon Innovation: Large Chinese Hydropower Dams in Cambodia

TLDR

Large dams have long been debated for their irreversible social and environmental impacts, yet hydropower is experiencing a renaissance driven largely by Chinese builders. This paper discusses South–South technology transfer of low‑carbon energy innovation, using the first Chinese‑funded, Chinese‑built dam in Cambodia as a case study. The authors analyze the role, opportunities, and barriers of technology transfer by examining the Kamchay Dam’s construction and operation. The study shows that successful technology transfer requires host capacity to absorb new technologies and that expertise, skills, and knowledge transfer must complement hardware to achieve sustainable development. © 2016 The Authors Sustainable Development published by ERP Environment and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Abstract

ABSTRACT Large dams have been controversially debated for decades due to their large‐scale and often irreversible social and environmental impacts. In the pursuit of low‐carbon energy and climate change mitigation, hydropower is experiencing a new renaissance. At the forefront of this renaissance are Chinese actors as the world's largest hydropower dam‐builders. This paper aims to discuss the role of South–South technology transfer of low‐carbon energy innovation and its opportunities and barriers by using a case study of the first large Chinese‐funded and Chinese‐built dam in Cambodia. Using the Kamchay Dam as an example, the paper finds that technology transfer can only be fully successful when host governments and organizations have the capacity to absorb new technologies. The paper also finds that technology transfer in the dam sector needs to go beyond hardware and focus more on the transfer of expertise, skills and knowledge to enable long‐term sustainable development. © 2016 The Authors Sustainable Development published by ERP Environment and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd