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Despite ongoing efforts, resource depletion and climate change continue to aggravate inequality. How can energy initiatives contribute to a more sustainable and equal society? This work aims to identify the challenges and opportunities facing neglected Brazilian communities in achieving fair energy transitions. Indigenous and traditional communities are field-assessed through site visits and stakeholder interviews. Appropriate energy generation options and consumption reduction strategies are identified. These alternatives are qualitatively evaluated using the Resource Complete Potential Assessment, a multi-criteria decision method encompassing techno-economic, environmental, social and political perspectives. Results highlight the importance of reliable, safe and clean energy in preserving fragile ecosystems and fortifying cultural identity and territorial resistance. While informal grid connections lack security and motivation for energy reduction, solar home systems offer empowerment opportunities and stimulate responsible consumption. However, it is necessary to strengthen regulatory and financial policies and establish an institutional commitment that guarantees adequate technical and training support., Acknowledgments to the Companhia Paulista de Força e Luz (CPFL) to support this research through the R&D strategic project: ANEEL PD 00063- 3025/2016 “Sistemas de Armazenamento Integrados a mais de uma fonte energética: Gestao ˜Hibrida de sistemas energéticos multifontes”, enabling the accomplishment of this work. This research was also funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities (research project RTI2018-097962-B-I00), and cofounded by the Centre of Cooperation for Development of the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. This work wouldn’t be possible without the significant support of Dr. Jose Aquiles Baesso Grimoni and the valuable contributions and aid during site visits of Dr. Luiz Cláudio Ribeiro Galvão, Dr. Tina Bimestre Selles Ribeiro and the activists and artist Dinas Miguel. The authors acknowledge the TekoaItakupe Aldeia and the Nova Enseada da Baleia community for kindly sharing their story, struggles, culture and traditions. The authors are grateful to the anonymous reviewers for their valuable feedback and insightful suggestions., Peer Reviewed, Objectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::7 - Energia Assequible i No Contaminant, Objectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::1 - Fi de la Pobresa, Objectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::10 - Reducció de les Desigualtats, Postprint (author's final draft)

Coastal elevation data are essential for a wide variety of applications, such as coastal management, flood modelling, and adaptation planning. Low-lying coastal areas (found below 10 m +Mean Sea Level (MSL)) are at risk of future extreme water levels, subsidence and changing extreme weather patterns. However, current freely available elevation datasets are not sufficiently accurate to model these risks. We present DeltaDTM, a global coastal Digital Terrain Model (DTM) available in the public domain, with a horizontal spatial resolution of 1 arcsecond (∼30 m) and a vertical mean absolute error (MAE) of 0.45 m overall. DeltaDTM corrects CopernicusDEM with spaceborne lidar from the ICESat-2 and GEDI missions. Specifically, we correct the elevation bias in CopernicusDEM, apply filters to remove non-terrain cells, and fill the gaps using interpolation. Notably, our classification approach produces more accurate results than regression methods recently used by others to correct DEMs, that achieve an overall MAE of 0.72 m at best. We conclude that DeltaDTM will be a valuable resource for coastal flood impact modelling and other applications., Urban Data Science, Mathematical Geodesy and Positioning

Scholarly debates on energy and climate change have successfully foregrounded mitigation measures, but often overlook the role of energy in climate adaptation. Adaptation is of key importance to building resilience to climate change impacts, but its link with energy access has not been studied in detail. This study aims to address this research gap by examining the relation between electricity access and climate resilience in the context of Bally Island in the Indian Sundarbans. We deploy a qualitative research approach to investigate whether and how the electricity grid, installed to Bally in 2019, aids residents to build resilience against climate change impacts. Our case study highlights the importance of incorporating climate resilience into future energy planning. We find that benefits of electricity access can help people to become more resilient against climate change impacts. However, it is important to understand contextual limitations to building resilience with electricity. Our case study furthermore shows unintended consequences of grid connectivity that can negatively impact peoples’ capacity to build resilience. For example, the untrustworthy electricity grid has led to the decline in popularity of solar PV systems, despite the fact that they are a more reliable alternative to the electricity grid. Therefore, we urge scholars and policy makers to consider the benefits, limitations, and unintended consequences of (planned) electricity measures on people’s capacity to build resilience, especially in areas vulnerable to climate change.

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to comprehensively examine the challenges hindering India's sustainable energy development, focusing on access to electricity, competition within the energy market, and the pivotal role of technology transfer and energy storage in overcoming growth hurdles. Theoretical Reference: The theoretical framework revolves around the intersection of Indian legislation and energy access, emphasising the significance of competition law in fostering a fair and inclusive energy landscape. The paper also draws on the theoretical foundations of technology transfer and energy storage as catalysts for sustainable growth in the renewable energy sector. Method: The methodology involves an in-depth analysis of India's renewable energy sector, exploring the impact of monopolies, anti-competitive practices, and the rapid expansion of solar power facilities. The study considers the role of competition law, technology transfer, and energy storage as key components in navigating the challenges of sustainable energy development. Result and Conclusion: The results underscore the interconnected nature of technology, energy storage, and competition legislation in India's energy revolution. The conclusion highlights public policy imperatives, emphasising demand-side management, resolution of contractual disputes, and the imperative need for efficient and cost-effective energy storage systems. The paper concludes with a call for a policy framework encouraging private sector participation and capacity building in the power sector. Implication of Research: The implications of this research extend to shaping public policy imperatives in the electricity sector, emphasising the need for demand-side management, resolution of disputes, and a policy framework to promote private sector participation. The research highlights the significance of these imperatives in developing efficient and cost-effective energy storage systems and achieving 'Round the Clock' re

Access to electricity is a prerequisite for development, included in both the Agenda for Sustainable Development and the African Union’s Agenda 2063. Still, universal access to electricity is elusive to large parts of the global population. In Somalia, approximately one-third of the population has access to electricity. The country is unique among non-island countries as it has no centralized grid network. This paper applies a geospatial electrification model to examine paths towards universal access to electricity in Somalia under different timelines and with regard to different levels of myopia in the modeling process. This extends the previous scientific literature on geospatial electrification modeling by studying the effect of myopia for the first time and simultaneously presenting the first geospatial electrification analysis focused on Somalia. Using the Open Source Spatial Electrification Tool (OnSSET), the least-cost electrification options towards 2030 and 2040, respectively, are compared. We find that under the shorter timeline, a deployment of mini-grids and stand-alone PV technologies alone provides the least-cost option under all but one scenario. However, under the longer timeline, the construction of a national transmission backbone would lower overall costs if there is high demand growth and/or low cost of centralized grid electricity generation. We also compare different levels of myopia in the modeling process. Here, OnSSET is first run directly until 2040, then in five-year time-steps and annual time-steps. We find that running the model directly until 2040 leads to the lowest costs overall. Running the model myopically leads to a sub-optimal, more costly technology mix, with a lock-in effect towards stand-alone systems. On the other hand, the myopic approach does provide additional insights into the development of the system over time. We find that longer-term planning favors the centralized grid network, whereas short-sighted myopic planning ca, QC 20231030

Climate finance is becoming an increasingly important aspect of climate change action, and massive sums are estimated to be required to mitigate further increase in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Mitigation projects supported by climate finance further have the possibility to increase access to modern energy services in countries where these are lacking. Focusing on the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and the fund’s climate finance projects committed to enhancing energy access, this study investigates the complexities related to climate finance projects and what possible justice implications climate finance might result in. The area of focus in the study is the African continent, and the aspect of energy justice, specifically energy access equity. The study uses qualitative document analysis and reflexive thematic analysis along with an energy justice lens and framework, to analyse aspects of energy justice in six approved funding proposals of the GFCs energy generation and access portfolio. The results reveal three major overarching themes of a strong focus on private sector enhancement, where risk management and return on investments are common patterns in the approved funding proposals, site selection criteria that focus on financial viability and market potential, and a strong focus on finding a balance between affordability and profits. Resulting from this is likely to be an enhancement of energy access for the middle and low-income population in Africa, however, the results of the study show that energy justice implications resulting from the planned projects, particularly in terms of energy access equity are likely to arise. The themes found in the documents are likely to result in both distributive and recognition justice implications specifically affecting individuals, households and social groups living in extreme poverty or in areas deemed as undesirable for investments. It further highlights the need to consider already marginalised groups in society and not o

In 2019, unprecedented extreme weather conditions occurred in several parts of the world as the temperature of the earth’s surface hit a record high. This deterioration of environmental conditions can largely be attributed to rise in emissions resulting from high energy demand. The concentration of carbon emissions in 2018 was at its highest level in over 800,000 years, at 413 parts per million driven by higher energy demand. The energy sector contributed to about two-thirds of this growth in emissions. Coal use in power alone surpassed 10 Gt CO2, mostly in Asia. Renewable energy sources and nuclear power met the majority of this growth in demand. Still, generation from coal and gas-fired power plants has increased considerably, continuing to ramp up emissions.While an effort globally is needed, developing nations are a critical part of reducing emissions. In the US and most of Europe, discussions on a cleaner grid revolve around higher reliability, more efficiency, and affordability. However, in many developing countries in Southeast Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, the bigger question is to ensure electricity supply, as the nations in those regions go through rapid industrialization and population growth. As such, these countries remain dependent on fossil fuels. In Africa for example, states grapple with power infrastructural deficit requiring over $90 billion in investment. Together, 48 countries that form sub-Saharan Africa have only 170 gigawatts (GW) in installed capacity generation. This renders approximately 625 million people in Africa without electricity. When incorporated in the grid with renewable energy sources, nuclear energy offers a workable option. Therefore, while expanding generation from renewable sources, countries in Southern Asia like India, and Southeast Asia like Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam and the Philippines are expanding and exploring their nuclear power programs to cope with the growing energy demand while also reducing emissions. Yet, ther

One of the many challenges humanity faces is developing energy access in a sustainable manner, that does not further contribute to the burning of fossil fuels, increasing greenhouse gas emissions, and global warming. In 2020, 2.4 billion people used inefficient and polluting cooking systems due to lack of energy access while 25% of schools lacked access to electricity, drinking water and basic sanitation. This thesis seeks to investigate this challenge by using satellite imagery big data to improve energy access in a sustainable manner.The theoretical framework explains the key concepts and outlines the theoretical underpinnings of this research in transformative social innovation theory and behavioural theory which help guide the analysis. The link between this research and existing research is also explained in this section. The methodology used will be to research review articles and choose the most appropriate and credible texts to answer two research questions. The first challenge relates to identifying promising applications of satellite imagery big data in improving energy access, and the second relates to explaining how we can ensure that development of energy access from satellite imagery is conducted in a sustainable manner.The primary findings of this research are that there are a number of credible review articles which contain real opportunities for improved energy access and include identifying optimum photovoltaics investment locations, identifying optimum small hydropower plant sites, CAM plant cultivation locations, an indicator to directly address sustainable energy investments and rural electricity access needs, and mapping of remote off-grid homes for improvement of energy access. The findings also indicated three key factors that are crucial for the sustainable development of energy access which include communication, collaboration, and community.There are a number of varied applications of satellite imagery big data discovered that each exhibit

Non-Interconnected Zones (NIZ) are a challenge for countries in terms of providing energy service coverage that is both economically and environmentally sustainable. Although some microgrid planning strategies allow for scaled-down energy solutions for these areas, a solely electrical approach does not facilitate the integration of a range of energy vectors. Considering the above, this study presents a multi-objective approach to optimally scale multi-energy systems (MES) in NIZ in Colombia to minimize both costs and pollutant emissions. The methodology is based on the MOPSO algorithm, which provides a set of optimized solutions that can be selected according to multiple criteria. The capabilities of the methodology are tested through a comparative study of microgrid planning in the Bahía Málaga area on Colombia’s Pacific coast. The results present solutions with lower costs and lower environmental impact, benefits that can be applied in other NIZ worldwide., Las Zonas No-Interconectadas (ZNI) son un desafío mundial a la hora de proveer un servicio energético universal, sostenible tanto económica, como ambientalmente. Si bien algunas estrategias de planificación de microrredes permiten el dimensionamiento de soluciones energéticas para estas áreas, un enfoque únicamente eléctrico no favorece un aprovechamiento integral de todos los vectores energéticos. En atención a lo anterior, este trabajo propone un enfoque multiobjetivo para dimensionar óptimamente sistemas multi-energéticos (MES) en ZNI, que minimicen los costos y las emisiones contaminantes. La metodología se basa en el algoritmo MOPSO, entrega un conjunto de soluciones optimizadas, que pueden seleccionarse de acuerdo con múltiples criterios. Las capacidades de la metodología se prueban mediante un estudio comparativo de planificación de microrredes en la zona Bahía, Málaga del Pacífico Colombiano. Los resultados muestran soluciones con menores costos y un menor impacto ambiental, ventajas que pueden ser aplicadas a otras ZNI en el mundo.

Seed Panel 24 - Energy in Times of Unprecedented Challenges: Rethinking Off-grid Solar Technologies in the Global South Keywords: Results-based financing (RBF); energy access; effectiveness; goal displacement Results-based Financing as a Governance Instrument For Energy Access Programs: Pros & Cons Ayda A. Frings1, Henny A. Romijn2 1: Green Link B.V.; 2: Eindhoven University of Technology, the Netherlands Results-based financing (RBF) of programs promoting the diffusion of small and pico solar systems and clean cookstoves in low-income regions in the Global South has become an increasingly popular policy instrument adopted by aid donors in search of ways to speed up progress towards SDG7. Gearing up is considered essential in view of the enormous numbers of people who still lack even the most basic electricity access and rely on traditional cooking fuels. RBF has come to be widely embraced as a promising vehicle for making a dent in these numbers, more than conventional subsidized donor financing. RBF's essential unique feature is that subsidies to organizations involved in disseminating energy access devices are disbursed only after pre-agreed sales numbers have been achieved. RBF thus shifts the risks associated with non-performance by implementing organizations from the donor to the subsidy receiver, an arrangement which supposedly provides a greater incentive to program implementers to deliver, thereby enhancing program effectiveness. The economistic logic used to justify the utilization of RBF for energy access is however not grounded in solid research-based evidence about how RBF design and implementation work out in practice for the implementing organizations, their target groups, and the societies in the Global South at large. Our panel contribution aims to start filling this gap. We start by outlining the results of a systematic review of the existing (mostly "grey") literature abou

Electricity access is an important issue and building capacity for it requires drawing relevant lessons from past policies. In this study, we evaluate the effect of the Jyotigram Yojana, or the lighted village scheme, a supply-side policy intervention during 2003–08 to increase rural electricity access in Gujarat, India. We hypothesize that policy implementation is associated with increased electricity consumption. To test this hypothesis, we exploit variation in the timing of policy implementation at the village level, and use a generalized difference-in-differences strategy for identification. Further, we use night-time luminosity measured through remote sensing as a proxy for electricity consumption, and control for weather, village fixed effect, year fixed effect, and village or administrative block specific time trend. We find that while the overall effect of the policy on night-time luminosity was not statistically significant, the effects were likely heterogeneous, with the night-time luminosity increasing in some districts after policy implementation and decreasing in others. We conclude that the policy might have had a re-distributive effect on electricity access or consumption and recommend adopting a more holistic approach – incorporating both supply-side and demand-side measures – to increase electricity access., Organisation & Governance

Non-PR, IFPRI1; 2 Promoting Healthy Diets and Nutrition for all, Natural Resources and Resilience (NRR); Transformation Strategies, This paper explores the relationship between agriculture, dietary diversity, and market access in Nepal, testing the complex causal chains involved, and the nuanced connections between production diversity and dietary diversity among smallholder farmers. While diversifying farm production could enhance dietary diversity, the case of Nepal indicates a varied and context specific relationship. Market access emerges as a crucial factor, often exerting a more significant impact on smallholder farm households than production diversity. Access to markets not only influences economic viability but also contributes directly to food and nutrition security, offering a practical solution to address dietary needs. Focusing on Nepal's diverse terrain, the study analyzes the interplay of remoteness, market access, irrigation availability, and complementary inputs in shaping farmers' decisions, providing valuable insights into sustainable agricultural strategies for improved dietary outcomes in low- and middle-income countries.

This research establishes the current state of the art for energy projects in humanitarian contexts. For that purpose, a literature review was conducted and 112 projects from the Safe Access to Fuel and Energy (SAFE, led by UNHCR) Repository have been assessed. The results show the majority of projects are focused on displaced populations. Renewable energies have emerged as a feasible solution for longterm conflicts, relieving environmental stress and fostering social and economic development., Este estudio establece el actual estado de la cuestión de proyectos energéticos en contextos humanitarios. Para ello, se ha realizado una revisión bibliográfica y se han evaluado 112 proyectos del Repositorio de la Iniciativa Safe Access to Fuel and Energy (SAFE) liderada por ACNUR. Los resultados muestran que la mayoría de proyectos se centran en población desplazada. Las energías renovables surgen como una solución viable en conflictos de larga duración, aliviando el estrés medioambiental y promoviendo el desarrollo económico y social., Cette recherche présente l’état de l’art actuel des projets énergétiques dans des contextes d’action humanitaire. Une étude bibliographique a été conduite, et 112 projets de “Safe Access to Fuel and Energy” (SAFE) archive ont été analysés. Les résultats montrent que la majorité de ces projets se concentrent sur populations déplacées. Les énergies renouvelables se présentent comme une solution envisageable dans des conflits à long terme, adoucissant les contraintes environnementales et favorisant le développement économique et social.

An inadequate understanding of the energy needs of forcibly displaced populations is one of the main obstacles in providing sustainable and reliable energy to refugees and their host communities. Here, we provide a first-order assessment of the main factors determining the decision to deploy fully renewable mini-grids in almost 300 refugee settlements in sub-Saharan Africa. Using an energy assessment survey and publicly available traditional and earth observation data, we estimate a total electricity demand of 154 GWh yr–1. This figure includes lighting, air circulation and phone charging for 1.15 million households and the estimated demand of almost 59,000 microbusinesses and around 7,000 institutional loads. Using a set of techno-economic modelling tools, we thus compute a corresponding upper-bound total up-front cost of providing electricity access of just over US$1 billion. Deploying solar photovoltaic mini-grids instead of diesel implies avoiding greenhouse gas emissions for 2.86 MtCO2e over 20 years.

Energy infrastructure and appropriate energy policies are crucial for sustainable development and to meet Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Limiting global warming potential below 1.5oC would require “rapid and far-reaching” transitions and unprecedented changes in all aspects of society. Several factors influence investment decisions on energy conversion technologies and their specific locations. The choice, timing, and location of energy investments affect the total system cost, socio-economic development, the environment (e.g., emissions, water use), and a nation's energy security. However, existing national energy modelling initiatives only investigate a subset of these pillars for achieving sustainability. This thesis examines the challenges associated with the energy transition of low-and middle-income countries (Paraguay, Ethiopia, Africa). This work considers national and global policies, focusing on achieving SDG7 and SDG13. The dissertation includes a cover essay and four appended papers. The research conducted in this Thesis examines how energy-systems models can assist in understanding an energy system's complex interactions for sustainable development. Specifically, the results highlight hydropower and solar PV as key technologies to achieve climate change targets, energy security and energy access goals. Hydropower and other renewable electricity can be exported to bolster energy security for the exporting country, although export revenues are eroded by local demand growth and low export prices. The benefits of low-cost electricity provided by cross-border hydropower should be balanced against energy security concerns for the importing country. The research demonstrates the benefits of regional coordination, with trade enabling renewable resources to be harnessed and the electricity transmitted to demand centres. Although RET decreases carbon dioxide emissions and water use compared to fossil-fuel plants and creates more jobs, they require high up, Energiinfrastruktur och lämplig energipolitik är avgörande för att uppnå de globala målen för hållbar utveckling (SDG). Att begränsa den globala uppvärmningen till 1,5 ᵒC kräver "snabba och långtgående" övergångar och förändringar utan motstycke i alla aspekter av samhället. Flera faktorer påverkar investeringsbeslut och val av plats för olika energiomvandlingsteknologier. Energiinvesteringar, deras tidpunkt och plats påverkar den totala systemkostnaden, socioekonomisk utveckling, miljön (t.ex. utsläpp, vattenanvändning) och en nations energisäkerhet. Befintliga nationella initiativ för energimodellering undersöker dock bara en delmängd av dessa aspekter.Denna avhandling undersöker utmaningarna i samband med energiomställningen i låg- och medelinkomstländer (mer specifikt Paraguay, Etiopien och övriga länder i Afrika). Detta arbete tar hänsyn till nationell och global policy, med fokus på att uppnå SDG7 och SDG13. Avhandlingen innehåller en omslagsuppsats och fyra bifogade artiklar. Forskningen i denna avhandling undersöker hur energisystemmodeller kan hjälpa till för att öka förståelsen av ett energisystems komplexa interaktioner för hållbar utveckling. Specifikt lyfter resultaten fram vattenkraft och solenergi som nyckelteknologier för att uppnå målen gällande klimatförändringar, energisäkerhet och energitillgång. Vattenkraft och annan förnybar el kan exporteras för att stärka energitryggheten för exportlandet, även i fallen då exportintäkterna urholkas av lokal efterfrågetillväxt och låga exportpriser. Fördelarna med lågprisel från gränsöverskridande ledningar bör vägas mot energisäkerhetsproblem för importlandet. Forskningen visar fördelarna med regional samordning, handel som möjliggör att förnybara resurser kan utnyttjas och elen överföras till områden med hög efterfrågan av energi. Även om förnybar teknologi kräver höga initiala investeringar, minskar de koldioxidutsläppen och vattenanvändningen jämfört med fossilbränsleanläggningar, samt skapar fler jobbtill

This thesis responds to the related imperatives of transitioning to low-carbon electricity systems and increasing global access to energy. It shows that microgrids and decentralized electricity systems are economically and technically capable of providing high levels of electricity access, and argues that incorporating active participation of electricity ``prosumers’’ into energy management systems enables more efficient electricity resource management.Chapter 1 quantifies the tradeoffs between costs and electricity for autonomous solar and battery systems across sub-Saharan Africa, finding that on average these autonomous systems can achieve high levels of reliability at a cost of on the order of 10 USD cents per ‘9’ of reliability. Moreover, it shows that these costs could drop to as low as 3 cents per 9 as battery costs decline, and that decentralized systems are cost-competitive with legacy grids across much of the continent.Chapter 2 proposes a load management system to manage electricity consumption in community microgrids with solar photovoltaics and battery storage while accounting for forecast uncertainty. It uses stochastic, model-predictive control techniques to set consumption limits during periods of low solar availability and high-demand. Simulation experiments show the management technique improves system reliability and consumer benefits from electricity through fewer interruptions and better electricity availability to high value uses.Chapter 3 studies optimal pricing and peer-to-peer energy trading systems in microgrids with 100\% renewable energy sources. It promotes a utility-maximization framework from which prices arise from exchanging electricity under scarcity, in contrast to standard marginal-cost based pricing that breaks down in 100\% renewable systems. It further proposes a negotiation algorithm for peer-to-peer energy transactions and proves its convergence to optimal exchanges.Chapter 4 extends the algorithm from Chapter 3 to a more bro

In 2019, 770 million people worldwide lived without electricity. As many as 490 million people could be electrified with 210,000 mini-grids by 2030. Obtaining information for decision-making is crucial to determine the viability of such a project. Currently, it is a major challenge for mini-grid developers to gather this information at the speed and scale necessary to make effective investment choices. Village Data Analytics (VIDA) is a decision-making tool used for mini-grid project planning and site selection. This paper presents a method to estimate the cost of a mini-grid distribution network on a site-by-site basis. This method can estimate the total demand, potential connections, distribution infrastructure components and corresponding costs for each site. The model can make predictions for 50 sites within two hours so the tool is especially useful for preliminary estimates in the planning phase. A more detailed study of the individual sites is recommended. Comparison with a benchmark has shown that on-site conditions often reveal activities that can only be captured by a survey. However, collecting on-site data is time-consuming and costly. Therefore, GIS and modelling tools can serve as a good approximation of the on-ground reality and are relevant to accelerate planning and support timely decision-making., 2019 levde 770 miljoner människor världen över utan elektricitet. Så många som 490 miljoner människor skulle kunna elektrifieras med 210 000 mininät till 2030. Att få information för beslutsfattande är avgörande för att avgöra om ett sådant projekt är lönsamt. För närvarande är det en stor utmaning för utvecklare av mininät att samla in denna information i den hastighet och skala som krävs för att göra effektiva investeringsval. Village Data Analytics (VIDA) är ett beslutsfattande verktyg som används för projektering av mininät och platsval. Det här dokumentet presenterar en metod för att uppskatta kostnaden för ett distributionsnät för mininät på plats för plats. Denna metod kan uppskatta den totala efterfrågan, potentiella anslutningar, komponenter för distribution sinfrastruktur och motsvarande kostnader för varje plats. Modellen kan göra förutsägelser för 50 platser inom två timmar, så verktyget är särskilt användbart för preliminära uppskattningar i planeringsfasen. En mer detaljerad studie av de enskilda platserna rekommenderas. Jämförelse med ett riktmärke har visat att förhållanden på plats ofta avslöjar aktiviteter som bara kan fångas genom en undersökning. Men att samla in data på plats är tidskrävande och kostsamt. Därför kan GIS- och modelleringsverktyg fungera som en bra approximation av verkligheten på marken och är relevanta för att påskynda planering och stödja beslutsfattande i rätt tid.

Strategic energy planning to achieve universal electricity access and meet the future energy needs of African nations is essential to formulate effective policy measures for climate change mitigation and adaptation. Africa can not afford a cost-prohibiting green energy transition to achieve United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 7. In this study, I employ open-access energy models, enhanced with geospatial data, to identify least-cost power generation investment options for forty-eight African nations. Different levels of electricity consumption per capita and costs of renewables are considered across four scenarios. According to the analysis, to achieve universal electricity access by 2030 in Africa, the power generation capacity needs to increase between 211GW-302GW, depending on electricity consumption levels and the cost of renewables considered, leading electricity generation to rise between 6,221PJ- 7,527PJ by 2030. Higher electricity generation levels lead to higher penetration of fossil fuel technologies in the power mix of Africa. Natural gas will be the dominant fossil fuel source by 2030, while the decreasing costs of renewables will lead solar to overtake hydropower. To meet the same electricity demand levels, decreasing the cost of renewables can enable a less carbon-intensive power system, although higher capacity is also needed. However, Africa is still hard to achieve its green revolution. Depending on electricity consumption levels and costs of renewables considered, grid-connected technologies are estimated to supply 85%-90% of total electricity generated in Africa in 2030, mini-grid technologies 1%-6%, and stand-alone technologies 8%-11%. Off-grid solar and hybrid mini-grid solar technologies are essential in electrifying residential areas. Higher penetration of renewable energy sources in the energy mix creates local jobs and increases cost-efficiency. The analysis demonstrates that 6.9 million to 9.6 million direct jobs, depending on the po, QC 20220629

Energy justice has emerged as a rapidly growing academic discipline at the intersection of social justice, energy policy, technologies, and the environment. It considers how both the benefits and burdens of our energy system are distributed across society, particularly as our system transitions to address climate change. This dissertation contributes to this emerging field by investigating issues of electricity access, distribution of energy burdens, and fairness of energy decision-making. By combining technical knowledge of electric power systems, methods from applied data science, and theory from energy justice, the following research examines the implications of inequitable access to reliable electricity around the world. Part I of this dissertation summarizes and reviews the landscape, theory, and methods of energy justice in order to motivate Part II which applies these methods and concepts to three timely energy justice issues. In brief: Ch 1: Introduction and Motivation - Offers an overview of the landscape and evolution of the energy justice field through a systematic review and analysis.Ch 2: Theory - Investigates the philosophical roots of energy justice theory by incorporating broader debates and approaches from political philosophy and other social justice disciplines.Ch 3: Methods - Reviews methods for measuring distributive energy justice via equality and equity, noting their strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities to inform decision-making.Ch 4: Application 1: Solar and gender - Using mixed-methods, this chapter investigates how the distributional benefits of off-grid solar are mediated by gender and class in rural Tanzania thereby investigating inequities in access to the benefit of solar electrification.Ch 5: Application 2: Reliability of energy access - This chapter empirically studies the reliability of household electricity access in Tanzania, Kenya, and India using data from a diverse set of technologies. It thereby investigates inequities in h

This paper explores how electrical appliances, together with the idea of attaining energy access in the near future, create hope in a northern village in Malawi. Even though less than one per cent of the rural population has energy access, some of these locals already own solar systems. Nevertheless, their solar equipment is not powerful enough to generate the large amounts of energy required to run electrical appliances, such as fridges and TVs, some of the electric devices they already own. Through autoethnography and ethnographic accounts of everyday life in the village over two months, the following research aims to defy western concepts of development and poverty and questions: How are development and technology visible in the northern village? How is energy desired to be used? What is the rationale? In addition, the available material comprises observations at residents' households, fishermen's workplaces, and interviews with shop owners, students, alumni, staff, and teachers at a solar academy. Drawing on theories of material culture, emotional practices, time, and agency, I will present two arguments. Firstly, locals already use and adapt solar technology to their needs, which foreign involvement could support. Secondly, education, objects, and the act of owning them represent the hope of a near-future within a low-income community. Both arguments are relevant to solar businesses and foreign involvement projects to implement technology., A presente investigação visa explorar como os eletrodomésticos e a ideia subjacente à obtenção de acesso à energia, num futuro próximo, cria esperança numa aldeia do norte do Malaúi. Mesmo com menos de um por cento da população rural com acesso à energia, esses residentes já possuem sistemas solares. Contudo, apesar de já disporem de eletrodomésticos como frigoríficos e televisões, o equipamento solar não é suficientemente capaz de produzir a energia elétrica necessária para os alimentar. Através do uso da autoetnografia e descrições etnográficas de eventos experienciados durante dois meses na já mencionada aldeia do norte, esta investigação pretende desafiar conceitos ocidentais relativos ao desenvolvimento e à pobreza. Assim, questiona: Como é que o desenvolvimento e a tecnologia são visíveis nesta aldeia do norte? Para que fins os residentes desejam utilizar a energia? Por que visam essa utilização? O material utilizado acarreta observações, focadas não apenas nas casas dos residentes como também no local de trabalho dos pescadores. Adicionalmente, e de modo a complementar e diversificar o material utilizado, a presente investigação conta também com entrevistas feitas a gerentes de lojas, estudantes, ex-alunos, staff, e professores de uma escola profissional focada na educação em energia solar. Atendendo a teorias de cultura material, práticas de emoções, temporalidade, e agência, dois argumentos são sugeridos. O primeiro, foca-se no facto de os residentes desta aldeia do norte já utilizarem e adaptarem a tecnologia de acordo com as suas necessidades- algo que o envolvimento estrangeiro pode apoiar. Já o segundo, prende-se por possuírem tanto a educação como os objetos- representando esperança para um futuro energético não longínquo desta comunidade que vive ainda num contexto de baixo rendimento económico. Ambas as conclusões são de enorme relevância tanto para negócios em que o foco seja a tecnologia solar, como para projetos de envolvimento estrangeiro que vis

Affordability is a major barrier to the adoption of clean energy technologies in low-income countries, which is partly why many governments provide subsidies to offset some of the upfront (installation) costs. However, simple administrative rules might not fully account for economic geography, resulting in lower subsidies for remote areas. Using regression analysis on a rich dataset of adoption, cost and subsidy for about 4000 Nepalese Village Development Committees over 22 years, we show that administratively determined lumpsum subsidies disproportionately hurt remote communities. Simulations show that adjusting the subsidy spatially to reflect the geographic cost of living, can increase clean technology adoption. Thus, spatial targeting of subsidies is key to accelerating energy access in remote settings such as the Hindu Kush Himalaya.

The ‘human right to energy’ might be a relatively unknown human right to most international human rights law scholars and practitioners, but attention to this right has steadily increased in recent years in literature, policy practice and avocacy (see also Hesselman, Varo, Laako 2019; Hesselman, Varo, Thomson, Guyet 2021). Especially, support for a more ‘autonomously’ formulated new ‘right to energy’ in theory has been caught up by support in legal practice, whether in response to concerns about energy marketization, disconnections, price setting, energy poverty, or the (just) energy transition. This contribution discusses recent legal developments in international, regional and national law, highlighting the breadth of legal practice on the ‘right to energy’ so far, as well as remarkable variations in formulations, and different associated entitlements and obligations. Especially, it considers support for the recognition of a right to energy/electricity under Article 14 CEDAW, Article 11 ICESCR, OAS law and customary law, and details evidence of recognition in national constitutional law and jurisprudence, with particular emphasis on Global South nations, especially in Latin-America and Asia. The paper builds on previous early attention to the idea of energy as a human right (Tully 2006; Bradbrook and Gardam 2006; Ngai 2012), but bringing new evidence regarding actual legal developments in recent years. This contribution firmly concludes that the idea of a ‘right to energy' is no longer just an ‘idea’, but also an actual legal development, whose time has come. It agrees that the ‘recognition of the right to energy as an independent human right should only be a matter of time, but not of principle’, even if some definitional challenges and questions may still exist, e.g. as the right compares to the 'right to water', or correlates to other rights, e.g. health, housing, or life with dignity. Further research on the current breadth and depth recognit

Purpose: Energy access is one of the challenges confronting Nigeria and many Sub-Saharan African countries. The energy poverty experienced in the country is even more pervasive in the rural communities where only about 36% of the population had access to electricity. With the current improvement in technological advancement in GIS and remote sensing, identifying small hydropower sites have become relatively easier, faster, and cost effective. Small hydropower is a clean renewable and reliable energy alternative that meets the economic and environmental energy policy objectives. This study therefore seeks to explore the viability of the SHP potentials for rural electrification.Design/ methodology/ approach: The quantitative research approach was employed. The study analysed the small hydropower potentials in Ogun watershed using geospatial techniques (Hydrology, Neighbourhood analysis, Watershed analysis) and descriptive statistics to describe the population and energy dynamics of the study area. Findings: The study identified a total of 137 potential hydropower sites with a minimum energy potential of 502 kw and maximum of 5.80 mw. Ogun watershed has 202200kW of potential energy is expected to support the electricity need of 59,471 rural households across ten local government areas in Ogun watershed.Research implications/ limitations: The study concludes that with the abundant water resources available in the country, small hydropower plants are viable option for reducing the energy deficit of the country and can also help in the attainment of sustainable development goals 7 (universal energy access for all).Practical implications/ limitations: The study further posited that the development of small hydropower in Ogun Watershed will reduce the level of energy poverty experienced in the rural communities and stimulates the growth and development of the communities across social, environmental, and economic dimension.Originality: This study was able to estimate the vi

In line with one of the objectives of Sustainable Development Goal 7 to close energy poverty, the techno-economic feasibility of deploying hybrid renewable energy systems (HRES) in Philippine off-grid islands has been extensively studied to address reliance on diesel generators in these areas. Several works have analyzed HRES deployment at a nationwide level in terms of levelized costs, but the financial sustainability in terms of profits and subsidies of such schemes is largely unexplored. In this work, we analyzed the potential profits and subsidy requirements of HRES in 634 Philippine off-grid islands. First, we developed a database of inhabited off-grid islands containing their load profiles and solar and wind resources. A techno-economic analysis was then performed by sizing HRES with solar photovoltaics, wind turbines, lithium-ion batteries, and diesel generators in each island to minimize net present costs. A profitability analysis was then carried out by calculating profitability metrics, such as the net present value, internal rate of return, and payback period at various tariff rates. The techno-economic analysis revealed that larger islands had a higher proportion of RE technologies, which decreased long-term costs but increased capital costs. Meanwhile, the profitability analysis showed that HRES projects in larger islands become profitable at lower electricity rates but require larger subsidies to maintain when they are unprofitable. In this regard, we argue that government subsidies should be targeted towards smaller islands, while the private sector should be enticed to invest in larger islands. This work demonstrates that quantifying subsidies and profits, and not just the costs, of HRES can yield better insights on the economics of HRES deployment. Moreover, this work highlights the importance of government subsidies and private sector participation for achieving 100% energy access in the Philippines.

2.9 billion people lack access to clean cooking fuels and technologies. This review analyzes the literature on affordability as a barrier to adoption and consistent use of clean cooking stoves and fuels. We find diverse frameworks, definitions and metrics in use, and frequent discussions on stove price, fuel costs, microfinance, and smaller procurement quantities. We recommend that financing strategies to mitigate unaffordability be based on how low-income households actually earn, spend, and save their money, and that affordability frameworks be expanded to account for gender divides, rural/urban divides, and stove stacking behavior. Our review thus aims to reflect the nuances of a low-income household's ability to pay for clean fuels. Affordability must make sense within the lived experiences of the poor if clean cooking is to achieve universal access.

Household access to essential energy services such as warmth, cooling, lighting, clean cooking or power for communication and appliances is increasingly considered to be vital to human development. People’s decent living standards, health, well-being and social inclusion depend on affordable, reliable and high-quality access to energy, but instead, energy poverty is considered a growing concern globally. This contribution assesses how international law, European Union law and national law has so far responded to questions of universal household energy access and energy poverty. It focuses particularly on how states may regulate in favour of universal access to affordable, continuous and high-quality electricity supply, and pays additional attention to the role of private service providers and trends to recognise energy access as a human rights concern. In terms of the latter, the paper provides evidence that electricity access is increasingly couched in legal 'fundamental rights' or 'human rights'-terms, at UN-level, EU-level and in various national jurisdictions, such as Colombia, South-Africa or the Philippines.

Urban and peri-urban communities across the Global South face considerable energy access challenges with over one billion people living without adequate access to basic services such as energy, water, and healthcare. Lack of access to modern energy services has cascading effects on the United Nations 2030 Agenda and the achievement of the corresponding Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In this article we address this issue, using the SDGs as a framework to evaluate how policies and plans for local energy access can be coordinated with all SDG Targets. With a case study in Kibera, Kenya, we analyse how local energy access could enable or inhibit all local SDG Targets. Based on this knowledge, we propose a set of actions to achieve full modern energy access without compromising other local Sustainable Development Goals. We propose a new taxonomy to evaluate how actions affect the interlinkages between local energy access and the achievement of the SDGs. We find that the SDGs, applied as a framework to direct national policies and strategic projects, offer a holistic outlook, helping to unpack discrete thinking and support an integrated sustainable future for all., QC 20211206

This paper presents the first application of the scenario discovery approach in geospatial electrification modelling. 1944 electrification simulations were constructed for Burkina Faso from a combination seven input levers, including four grid-extension strategies. The scenario discovery analysis identifies a scenario described by a high grid electricity generation cost in combination with an intensification strategy for grid-extension, as most likely to lead to a high cost of electricity in Burkina Faso. Thus, to avoid such a high cost, decisions in the country could be targeted either at lowering grid electricity generation costs or to choose one of the other two gridextension strategies, or both. For each of the grid-extension strategies, a number of drivers causing a high LCOE were identified. Common drivers for all strategies were the grid electricity generation cost and discount rate. The scenario discovery approach was used to identify the key drivers of high electrification costs and their interactions, providing useful information that might not be gained from a traditional scenario-axes approach. This approach provided a structured way to analyze more parameters than found in previous electrification studies for Burkina Faso. The paper discusses on the pros compared to a traditional scenario-axes approach, such as reduced risk of perceived bias and improved ability to deal with multiple uncertain parameters, but also notes the additional computational requirements., QC 20220120

The introduction of geospatial data into modelling efforts carries many advantages but also introduces numerous challenges. A common challenge is the Modifiable Areal Unit Problem (MAUP), describing how results change as the spatial aggregation of data changes. Here, we have studied MAUP in geospatial least-cost electrification modelling. We do this by assessing the effects of using 26 different population bases each for Benin, Malawi and Namibia. We use the population bases to generate 2080 electrification scenarios per country and conducting a global sensitivity analysis using the Delta Moment-Independent Measure. We identify population aggregation to be highly influential to the model results with regards to method of aggregation (delta values of 0.06-0.24 depending on output studied), administrative division (0.05-0.14), buffer chosen in the clustering process (0.05-0.32) and the minimum number of neighbours within the buffer required for clustering (0.05-0.19). Based on our findings, we conclude that geospatial electrification studies are not robust concerning the choice of population data. We suggest, that modelers put larger emphasis on different population aggregation methods in their sensitivity analyses and that the methods chosen to conduct sensitivity analysis are global in nature (i.e. moving all inputs simultaneously through their possible range of values)., QC 20220120Correction in Energy strategi reviews, volume 50, DOI: 10.1016/j.esr.2023.101262, WOS:001130293000001

Household access to essential energy services such as warmth, cooling, lighting, clean cooking or power for communication and appliances is increasingly considered to be vital to human development. People’s decent living standards, health, well-being and social inclusion depend on affordable, reliable and high-quality access to energy, but instead, energy poverty is considered a growing concern globally. This contribution assesses how international law, European Union law and national law has so far responded to questions of universal household energy access and energy poverty. It focuses particularly on how states may regulate in favour of universal access to affordable, continuous and high-quality electricity supply, and pays additional attention to the role of private service providers and trends to recognise energy access as a human rights concern. In terms of the latter, the paper provides evidence that electricity access is increasingly couched in legal 'fundamental rights' or 'human rights'-terms, at UN-level, EU-level and in various national jurisdictions, such as Colombia, South-Africa or the Philippines.

Global emissions have continued to rise steadily at levels exceeding the 1.5°C climate stabilization target. Therefore, the increase in the average global temperature and climate change will be determined by how we handle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions over the next years. Decarbonizing economic growth and development add pressure to all countries in the world, but even more pressure to low and middle-income countries planning to use their fossil fuel resources as a ‘leading sector’ to achieve growth. Low and middle-income countries have limited financial resources and often have to prioritize short-term development goals with immediate local co-benefits over mitigation and adaptation strategies with long-term gains. Reaching the climate stabilization/decarbonization goal will require large investments to decarbonize the energy sector, together with investments and policy measures to ensure resilience and adaptation to climate change. Bolivia has signaled its intent to eradicate poverty and achieve economic growth while preserving environmental sustainability by adopting the seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In line with SDG7, Bolivia aims to achieve universal access to electricity by 2025. Although electricity access has improved significantly with large investments in grid-extension and decentralized systems, currently 61% of the grid generation capacity and 93% of the decentralized generation capacity is fossil-fueled. Other sectors, such as the transport sector, depend mostly on fossil fuels and largely contribute to Bolivia’s GHG emissions. Policies intended to increase energy security in Bolivia focus on the increased use of domestic natural gas, on investments in large-scale hydropower plants, and on first-generation (1G) biofuel production for the transport sector. In line with SDG 7 and SDG 13, this doctoral thesis examines low-carbon development pathways for the main policies addressing energy access and energy security in Bolivia. With metho, Globala utsläpp har fortsatt att stadigt öka till nivåer som överstiger klimatstabiliseringsmålet på 1.5°C. Därför kommer ökningen i den globala genomsnittliga temperaturen och klimatförändringen att avgöras av hur vi hanterar utsläppen av växthusgas under kommande år. Koldioxidutvecklingen ekonomisk tillväxt och utveckling sätter press på alla länder i världen. Men ännu större press på låg- och medelinkomstländer som planerar att använda sina fossila bränsleresurser som en ‘ledande sektor’ för att nå tillväxt. Låg- och medelinkomstländer har begränsade ekonomiska resurser och måste ofta prioritera kortsiktiga utvecklingsmål med omedelbara åtföljande lokala fördelar framför begränsningsstrategier med långsiktiga vinster. Att nå klimatstabiliserings- och koldioxidavvecklingsmålet kommer att kräva stora investeringar för att fasa ut fossila bränslen i energisektorn, tillsammans med investeringar och politiska åtgärder för att säkerställa uthållighet och anpassning till klimatförändringen. Bolivia har uttryckt ambitionen att utrota fattigdom och uppnå ekonomisk tillväxt och samtidigt bevara miljömässig hållbarhet genom att anta de sjutton globala målen. I linje med mål 7 strävar Bolivia att uppnå tillgång till elektricitet för alla till år 2025. Även om eltillgången har förbättrats avsevärt med stora investeringar i elnätet och decentraliserade el-system, så är fortfarande 61% av elproduktionskapaciteten och 93% av den decentraliserade produktionskapaciteten fossildriven. Andra sektorer, t.ex. transporter, domineras också av fossila bränslen och bidrar till stor del till växthusgasutsläppen. Politik som syftar till att öka energisäkerheten i Bolivia fokuserar på ökad användning av naturgas, på investeringar i storskaliga vattenkraftverk och på första generationens (1G) biobränsleproduktion för transportsektorn. I linje med dem globala målen 7 och 13 undersöker denna doktorsavhandling hållbara utvecklingsvägar med låga koldioxidutsläpp kring nyckelpolicyer som hanterar

Universal electrification by 2030 is an important goal of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7. Electricity provision no longer relies only on centralized grid expansion, but also on off-grid and mini-grid systems. Although this technological diversity holds promise, the technologies differ both physically and institutionally in electricity delivery. These differences raise equity and justice concerns around how they are implemented. For example, how can electricity be kept affordable for all consumers when access is provided by various technologies operated under different business models? This paper addresses this aspect of affordability and sheds light on how the SDG7 target could be met more equitably and fairly. We use a novel analytical methodology to apply two different principles of justice - equality and equity - to incorporate affordability into electricity pricing. Using a geospatial electrification model and Tanzania as a case study, we first arrive at price levels based on the principle(s) of justice. Then, we produce location-specific recommendations for subsidy levels needed to ensure those price levels. We find that the equity approach benefits a bigger section of the population than the equality approach. Moreover, the former costs significantly less per capita than the latter. Having said that, the equity approach is complex and therefore harder to implement. The methodological framework proposed in this study acts as a proof-of-concept for examining concerns around distributive justice using quantitative energy modelling tools and drawing policy relevant insights for energy planning in developing countries. Additionally, by focusing on the spatial aspects of energy access and the issue of fairness, the study also contributes to the growing conceptualizations of energy justice., QC 20200408

This paper examines how the diffusion of solar technology to low-income populations in India is shaped by people’s requirements for low-cost and adaptable energy solutions. Recent energy scholarship suggests that businesses selling high-quality, low-cost, functionally-fixed ‘standardized’ off-grid solar products at volume can drive the mass diffusion of solar technology to low-income populations. High-profile solar businesses operate under the assumption that with this model they can capture demand in ‘bottom of the pyramid’ markets. The paper firstly challenges the assumption of homogenous bottom of the pyramid markets that this model relies upon. Based upon empirical data from the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, the paper then examines how solar businesses adopting this model have struggled, only selling significant numbers of units when subsidised. It looks at how informal shops are, in contrast, thriving by offering low-cost, improvised, and adaptable solar products, without subsidies. It shows how these products are meeting people’s requirements for low-cost solar solutions that are functionally flexible and which can be altered, added to incrementally, upgraded, and easily repaired locally. In conclusion, the paper argues actors working on energy access must re-examine promotion schemes and quality-standards that privilege functionally-fixed, standardized solar products. It suggests supporting modularity as one alternative compatible with demand for adaptability, both in function and time.

Microgrids for rural electrification are expected to play a key role in achieving global energy access goals by the year 2030. However, the high cost of stand-alone renewable energy microgrids intended to serve generally poor communities remains a key barrier to their deployment, while appropriate microgrid design and operation is a challenging task given the generally low diversity of loads and generators. High penetrations of variable renewable generation increase these challenges due to short term changes in output associated with the underlying resource and at times limited availability and predictability. Current practices for providing electricity access still often focus on the supply side with an emphasis on ensuring the reliability, affordability and security of supply to meet some energy user demand. This supply focus on electricity provision misses some key opportunities on the demand-side for providing low cost and reliable energy service delivery to users. The aim of the research is to better understand the opportunity to improve energy service delivery in renewable energy microgrids by managing the demand side in accordance with user priorities. The thesis proposes a novel characterisation framework for energy services based on their flexibility and users’ prioritisation. Detailed survey data from 225 households across five microgrids and, grid sites in Nepal is collected to test this framework, and in doing so provides insights on how households use and prioritise their energy services across different supply sources and the factors that influence their use, which can inform energy access planning and program design. Characterisation of load or service types using the framework allows identification of key opportunities for demand-side flexibility in the case study minigrids. A method for modelling and assessing the benefits of this flexibility and energy efficiency was developed using publicly available tools. Timeseries demand profiles were construc

Cooking is an essential and energy-intensive activity. Populations in industrialized countries enjoy nearly universal access to electricity and gas for clean cooking, while about 2.5 billion people in low- and middle-income countries use solid fuels such as wood, charcoal, coal, crop residue and dung for their daily cooking. These traditional solid fuel cooking systems negatively affect the health and reduce the opportunities of cookstove users, who are disproportionately women and children. Solid fuel cooking also presents a number of detrimental environmental impacts, such as ambient air pollution and forest degradation in some regions. Access to cleaner cooking fuels such as gas and electricity is expanding, but is constrained by the higher costs and logistical challenges of such systems. This review investigates the technologies and systems that are currently used to cook food, with a focus on low-income populations. It identifies key challenges that hinder a global transition to clean and sustainable cooking. Finally, it reflects on the recent success of Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) along with other fossil fuel-based cooking systems, and discusses a potential transition to renewable energy-based cooking.

In spite of abundant generation potential, as of 2019 East Africa has an electricity access level of 36%, with over 140 million people without service. Here, a bottom-up geospatial model (OnSSET) is used to estimate least-cost pathways to universal access to electricity by 2030 for different consumption-tier objectives under three regional grid electricity generation mix scenarios. Results suggest median total required investments of $57 and $110 billion for guaranteeing basic (160 and 44 kWh/person/year in urban and rural areas) and moderate - i.e. including potential to enable some productive uses - (423 and 160 kWh/person/year) consumption for newly connected households by 2030, respectively. This corresponds to an average of $5.6 billion/year, and implies median capacity additions of 12.2 GW (59% on-grid, 37% mini-grids, and 4% standalone solutions). At least further $2.7 billion/year in generation capacity are required to satisfy the projected demand growth from already electrified consumers. A grid electricity scenario with 25% lower photovoltaic costs and a higher penetration of renewables reveals to be up to 10% cheaper and 46% less carbon-intensive, while also requiring less up-front investment. To achieve such objectives, investment must be channelled within an enabling policy environment, which we discuss.

This book provides a rigorous, concise guide to the current status and future prospects of the global energy system. As we move away from fossil fuels and toward clean energy solutions, the complexity of the global energy system has increased. Tagliapietra cuts through this complexity with this multidisciplinary perspective of the system, which encompasses economics, geopolitics, and basic technology. He goes on to explore the main components of the global energy system - oil, natural gas, coal, nuclear energy, bioenergy, hydropower, geothermal energy, wind energy, solar energy, marine energy - as well as energy consumption and energy efficiency. It then provides an in-depth analysis of the pivotal issues of climate change and of energy access in Africa.

Lanterns, homes systems, hot water systems and micro-grids based on small-scale solar have become prominent ways to address the energy access challenge. As momentum grows for this form of energy transition this paper draws together research on small-scale solar in six different countries – Bangladesh, Brazil, India, Mozambique, Sri Lanka and South Africa – to argue for a need to understand how, when, and for whom solar provides energy access. It argues that an assemblage perspective can provide vital insights into the diversity and dynamism of energy access. The paper demonstrates that the diverse ways in which solar provides energy access is a function of the flexibility/fixity of the socio-technical assemblage and the de/centralisation of agency. The central thesis of this paper is that energy access is fluid and ever changing and we need fluid, easily maintainable, locally modifiable ‘assemblages’ for providing such access. Using this perspective, we find three common features of solar energy access across our case studies. First, there are significant gaps between what solar projects are designed to achieve and what they deliver, which are highly contingent on the flexibility of their structure and the decentralisation of agency within them. Second, access needs to endure continuously. Third, to foster enduring access, projects should embed logics of improvisation. This paper is based on six separate qualitative research projects conducted during 2010–2016. It draws data from 482 interviews, 91 home tours and 12 group discussions.

Lanterns, homes systems, hot water systems and micro-grids based on small-scale solar have become prominent ways to address the energy access challenge. As momentum grows for this form of energy transition this paper draws together research on small-scale solar in six different countries – Bangladesh, Brazil, India, Mozambique, Sri Lanka and South Africa – to argue for a need to understand how, when, and for whom solar provides energy access. It argues that an assemblage perspective can provide vital insights into the diversity and dynamism of energy access. The paper demonstrates that the diverse ways in which solar provides energy access is a function of the flexibility/fixity of the socio-technical assemblage and the de/centralisation of agency. The central thesis of this paper is that energy access is fluid and ever changing and we need fluid, easily maintainable, locally modifiable ‘assemblages’ for providing such access. Using this perspective, we find three common features of solar energy access across our case studies. First, there are significant gaps between what solar projects are designed to achieve and what they deliver, which are highly contingent on the flexibility of their structure and the decentralisation of agency within them. Second, access needs to endure continuously. Third, to foster enduring access, projects should embed logics of improvisation. This paper is based on six separate qualitative research projects conducted during 2010–2016. It draws data from 482 interviews, 91 home tours and 12 group discussions.

Heavy reliance on traditional biomass for household energy in eastern Africa has significant negative health and environmental impacts. The African context for energy access is rather different from historical experiences elsewhere as challenges in achieving energy access have coincided with major climate ambitions. Policies focusing on household energy needs in eastern Africa contribute to at least three sustainable development goals (SDGs): climate action, good health, and improved energy access. This study uses an integrated assessment model to simulate the impact of land policies and technology subsidies, as well as the interaction of both, on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, exposure to air pollution and energy access in eastern Africa under a range of socioeconomic pathways. We find that land policies focusing on increasing the sustainable output of biomass resources can reduce GHG emissions in the region by about 10%, but also slightly delay progress in health and energy access goals. An optimised portfolio of energy technology subsidies consistent with a global Green Climate Funds budget of 30-35 billion dollar, can yield another 10% savings in GHG emissions, while decreasing mortality related to air pollution by 20%, and improving energy access by up to 15%. After 2030, both land and technology policies become less effective, and more dependent on the overall development path of the region. The analysis shows that support for biogas technology should be prioritised in both the short and long term, while financing liquefied petroleum gas and ethanol technologies also has synergetic climate, health and energy access benefits. Instead, financing PV technologies is mostly relevant for improving energy access, while charcoal and to a lesser extend fuelwood technologies are relevant for curbing GHG emissions if their finance is linked to land policies. We suggest that integrated policy analysis is needed in the African context for simultaneously reaching progress

Technology advancements in distributed renewable energy and ICT are challenging the natural monopoly paradigm that has held for electricity transmission and distribution over the past 100 years. Nowhere is this tension being played out more than Sub Saharan Africa where the grid has yet to reach 80% of the population. In order to provide energy access to the roughly 600 million people in this region that are currently without, governments will need to closely evaluate the rapidly evolving distributed energy industry and carefully compare its value and costs to that of energy access provided through a centralized grid. While some existing energy planning modeling finds that grid extension is the least cost approach to electricity access for the majority of Kenyan regions, these models often under estimate the cost of grid connection, do not account for recent rapid decrease in solar system costs, fail to account for poor reliability and do not factor in appliance efficiency gains in current and future load demand scenarios (Moksnes, et al., 2017) (Nassen, et al., 2002) (Parchall, et al., 2009) (Ondraczek, 2014).The thesis seeks to explore the cost and value of energy service provision to rural areas of Kenya through central electricity grid extensions compared to energy services from solar home systems. A novel comparative approach is used which takes into account a wider range of costs than many existing tools, including costs associated with lower reliability, and different levels of end-user appliance efficiencies. The model is implemented in an open-source tool that provides transparent, verifiable modelling outputs, and allows researchers and other interested stakeholders to explore different scenarios of future grid, solar home system and end-user appliance costs and performance. In addition, this thesis pilots a novel approach to measuring grid reliability through SMS surveying. Modelling for Kenya suggests that solar home systems can be highly competitive aga

This study examines the adoption of clean cooking technologies in developing countries with a focus on the ACE-1 advanced biomass stove (ABS). Marginalized communities in rural environments are often exposed to high levels of Household Air Pollution (HAP) due to the common use of traditional cookstoves. The United Nations (UN) has recognized the adoption of clean cooking technology like the ABS as a key driver and high-impact opportunity in the context of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Nonetheless, the context for adoption is complex. Adoption depends on numerous variables, that can enable or hinder the uptake of modern cookstoves. This study is based on the assumption, that adoption starts with the decision-making process and acquisition of the stove. Based on a field study in rural Cambodia, this research focuses on users at the initial stage of adoption. By means of questionnaire-based interviews, this study identifies how variables related to ‘fuel and technology’ and ‘household and setting’ affect the likeliness of adoption and what opportunities can be identified to facilitate the process of adoption. The study finds, that ABS-suitable biomass fuels are available and accessible in rural Cambodia. Besides, the production of renewable biomass fuels like pellets is growing, which provides opportunities for collaboration with stove distributors. The study confirms the common practice of stove stacking and points out the strong market presence of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) stoves. Market activities need to consider these factors and highlight the competitive advantages of AB, namely fuel efficiency and cost savings. Finally, the impact of social influence and peer relations should be further researched and taken into consideration for sales and marketing activities.