Holle Wlokas

Designation: Assistant Researcher: Energy Research Centre
Expertise: Poverty alleviation through renewable energy, energy poverty, renewable energy for low-income households, carbon finance

Biography

I am currently completing my PhD thesis. My research investigates the institutional work associated with community benefit commitments and schemes established under the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement (REIPPP) programme in South Africa.

Private renewable energy companies are engaged in my action research project, as well as governmental and civil society stakeholders. The research involves an analysis of the REIPPPP's community benefit requirements, a review of submitted bid documents and field work in several wind and solar projects across the country.

Prior to starting my PhD, I worked in the Energy, Poverty and Development group at the Energy Research Centre (ERC) at the University of Cape Town (UCT). I am trained as social scientist and hold a Masters degree in Political Science from the Freie Universitaet in Berlin.