Identification of objectives for national energy planning in developing countries

Defining objectives is an essential part of planning processes, useful to induce creative alternatives and to derive the attributes (criteria) on which the alternatives will be assessed. This article identifies a set of energy planning (EP) objectives and measurable attributes specifically tailored for promoting sustainability in developing countries. A literature review was conducted as part of a problem structuring activity to identify applicable EP objectives. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), with an emphasis on Ghana, was used as a representative area of study. Two EP objectives specific to the context of the ECOWAS were identified, namely, ensuring maintainability of the final energy supply system and access to final energy services. These were included within a set of EP objectives which consisted of the additional of increasing primary energy security and reliability of the final energy system, and decreasing costs (investment, operation & maintenance), influence of the energy system on the global climate, impact of the energy system on the local environment. These EP objectives were made operational through the identification of a set of corresponding measurable attributes. This EP objective set, used within a structured EP methodology, may support the implementation and sustainability of national EP activities in the countries of the region.