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Globally, rural areas suffer from less infrastructure relative to urban areas. Political and development economists have mainly attributed this disparity in infrastructure distribution to governance. The literature has sufficiently discussed the role that rural-urban infrastructure inequality plays in development outcomes such as poverty. However, not much is known about the effect of the rural-urban infrastructure gap on the environment. To contribute to knowledge and policy discussions, we investigate the impact of rural-urban energy access (in)equality on environmental degradation and the role governance plays using data from 47 sub-Saharan African countries from 2000–2020. Evidence from the heteroskedasticity-based instrumental variable regression consistent with Driscoll and Kraay's estimation revealed that bridging rural-urban energy access inequality is associated with reduction in environmental degradation. We also documented that the direct effect of the governance-related variables used is mixed. The moderation and marginal effect estimates showed that improving governance quality conditions equality in rural-urban energy access to reduce environmental degradation. From a policy perspective, these findings suggest that the implementation of rural electrification policies supported by a good governance system would play a crucial role in mitigating environmental degradation in developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A method for analyzing the triboelectrification process of plastics are proposed. • Effects of initial charge on the triboelectrification are experimentally analyzed. • The initial charge was first released into the control volume for some cases. Plastic recycling is one of the most economical and environment-friendly solutions for effective plastic waste management. Triboelectric separation is one of beneficial methods to accomplish this. A method and device capable of analyzing the triboelectrification of materials with specific initial charges are proposed in this study. The process of triboelectrification is experimentally analyzed for various initial-charge conditions using the proposed method and device. The triboelectrification process can be divided into two groups depending on the initial-charge conditions. For the specific initial conditions, termed Group 2 in this work, it is observed that the initial charge of one material is first released into the control volume, following which the two materials exchange charges, unlike in the conventional triboelectrification process. This study is expected to provide valuable insights into triboelectrification analysis, thereby advancing the multistage plastic-separation processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Novel forecast-based charging strategy for standalone PV battery systems. • Extension of lithium-ion battery life by keeping the SOC low. • Case-study with 14 standalone PV battery systems in Nigeria. • Longer battery life and cheaper operational costs of systems. • Enabler for green rural electrification. Standalone PV battery systems have great potential to power the one billion people worldwide who lack access to electricity. Due to remoteness and poverty, durable and cheap systems are required for a broad range of applications. However, today's PV battery systems do not yet fully meet this requirement. Especially batteries still prove to be a hindrance, as they represent the most expensive and fastest-aging component in a PV battery system. This work aims to address this by prolonging battery life. For this purpose, a forecast-based charging strategy was developed. As lithium-ion batteries age slower in a low state-of-charge, the goal of the operation strategy is to only charge the battery as much as needed. The impact of the proposed charging strategy is examined in a case study using one year of historical data of 14 standalone systems in Nigeria. It was found that the proposed operation strategy could reduce the average battery state-of-charge by around 20% without causing power outages for the mini-grids. This would significantly extend the life of the battery and ultimately lead to a more durable and cheaper operation of standalone PV battery systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microgrids system consisting of single or multiple energy resources and storage is used to provide electricity to remote rural areas. Subsequently, they can be worked in both grid-connected and islanded modes. Microgrids can provide stable energy solutions to areas where grid extension is either costly or not feasible. The system's long-term economic stability and sustainability must be considered throughout the microgrid's design. Renewable energy sources have a variety of objectives and possible restrictions. The current plan suggests a rural microgrid with integrated solar, diesel, and battery systems. The proposed microgrid for the rural area of Uttarakhand (India) is given a techno-economic and feasibility analysis. For the hilly region of India, a standalone microgrid is created to handle the home peak load of 13kW. Moth flam optimization (MFO) is utilized to optimize the proposed energy framework, and the results are compared with those of a genetic algorithm (GA) and particle swarm optimization (PSO). The optimal hybrid system's net current and energy costs are calculated to be $58372.00, with the cost of energy per unit being $0.14/kWh. Sensitivity analysis and robustness viability have been performed for the configuration. The finding suggested that the energy framework using MFO is 18% and 16% less expensive than GA and PSO, respectively. This research adds new direction to critical sustainable development among developed countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a country of over 166 million people, the unstable coal-, gas-, and oil-driven on-grid electricity network in Bangladesh hardly connects every remote area and island. In rural areas where grid extension is too expensive, solar home systems (SHS) provide an appealing electrification option. Despite SHS becoming popular in Bangladesh, the understanding of the uses, impacts and challenges of SHS in rural communities, particularly in the remote coastal regions is largely unknown. In this study, using a semi-structured questionnaire survey at the household (HH) level and multiple participatory rural appraisal tools (Focus Group Discussion (FGD) and Key Informant Interview (KII)), we evaluated the (i) usage of solar energy for various activities, (ii) impact of SHS on lives and livelihoods of HHs, and (iii) challenges in SHS usage in two sub-districts (Dacope and Monpura) in Bangladesh. Regardless of the studied sub-districts, lighting, charging, and studying were the top home uses of solar energy. Since most HHs have school-aged children, a large percentage of HHs (83 % in Dacope and 71 % in Monpura) used solar energy for their children's education. Almost half of the responding HHs used solar energy for recreation, followed by 24 % (41 %) for shop keeping, and 15 % (24 %) for tailoring in Dacope (Monpura) sub-districts. Social security was the most widely mentioned influence on their life. Nearly three-quarters respondents in Dacope and 58 % in Monpura reported that their children's school attendance increased. Since both sub-districts are the worst-affected by natural disasters, nearly three-quarters of households acknowledged that solar power had a huge impact on emergency preparedness. The success stories of the influence of SHS in strengthening the livelihoods of SHS users have inspired neighborhoods, particularly young entrepreneurs, to start new businesses like tailoring, poultry farming, and charging stations for electric vehicles. Despite the far-reaching effects of SHS on their livelihoods, the respondents have encountered numerous obstacles (e.g., foggy weather). Although SHS users are ignorant of the correct procedures for disposing of defective equipment, one-fifth of households expressed worry about the impact of disposing equipment on the environment. The findings in the qualitative analysis (FGD and KII) extracted by summative content analysis also supported the findings of HH survey. That is, the frequency of identified words: 'lighting', 'charging', 'disaster response, preparedness, foggy weather' were higher compared to other recognized words. This study concludes that despite some challenges in its usages, SHS greatly influenced the lives and livelihoods of these geographically challenged locations by introducing income generating activities, boosting social security, women empowerment and responding to natural calamities. The evidence of the success stories of SHS users in introducing new business and strengthening their livelihood opportunities provides positive impacts among the communities in these disaster vulnerable regions. This study findings are of practical importance to (i) the decision makers for the movement of green energy and policy implementation and (ii) the SHS companies and NGOs to providing subsidized SHSs to the marginalized communities. • Solar home system (SHS) uses and impacts on coastal communities were assessed. • Lighting, charging and income generating activities were the top usage of SHS. • Social security, school attendance and women empowerment were the most stated impacts of SHS. • Foggy weather and panel cleanliness were the biggest obstacles to getting optimum output from SHS. • Hazardous waste generation from SHS is considered a potential threat to the environment and human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As public resources are scarce, investments from the private sector are essential to scale up rural electrification and thus to achieve universal access to electricity by 2030. However, the lack of clear public policies, together with a high perceived risk, have been a deterrent to investors' participation in off-grid electrification projects. In this paper, we focus on identifying the main drivers of risk, namely the set of uncertainties and perceived risks that prevent private companies from investing in off-grid electrification projects. We use a stochastic discount cash flow technique — net present value (NPV) combined with Monte Carlo simulation — to incorporate these uncertainties and quantify the business and investment risks associated with an off-grid solar PV project. The technique is applied to the case of Colombia, wherein major contributors to risk are the variability in revenues and the annual revenue growth rate. For this case, we estimate the probability of project failure and investigate how private companies could mitigate risks by keeping operating costs to <50 % of revenues. In this regard, the role of the government proves to be essential in providing a better investment environment for private investors. We suggest that government interventions could take the form of financial de-risking instruments, including better-designed end-user subsidies and the implementation of concession agreements through long-term contracts. These results are of interest to private investors who need to account for risk analysis when deciding whether to invest or not in off-grid projects. Also, our findings guide policymakers seeking to understand the private sector perspective while designing efficient policy mechanisms to increase access to electricity in developing countries. • Investments from the private sector and better-designed tariffs are essential to scale-up rural electrification • Monte Carlo Simulation with multiple sources of uncertainty • Stand-alone PV systems are a cost-effective solution to expand electricity access • Revenue uncertainty impacts the variability of the NPV of the project • Business Risk affects the off-grid private companies' willingness to invest [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hybrid power systems (HPS) based on photovoltaic (PV), diesel generators (DG), and energy storage systems (ESS) are widely used solutions for the energy supply of off-grid or isolated areas. The main hybridizing challenges are reliability, investment and operating costs, and carbon emissions problems. Since HPS are usually sized to provide energy continuously, it is essential to use the solar energy potential close to full capacity, especially on cloudy days. One of the prominent solutions to overcome these challenges is integrating solar tracking systems (STS). This article focuses on the optimal sizing of HPS based on PV-DG-ESS utilizing STS by analyzing technical, economic, and environmental aspects. Optimization is performed with the MILP solved via Gurobi, considering the net present cost (NPC) and loss of power supply probability (LPSP) objectives. The results indicate that horizontal and dual solar trackers can provide up to 50% better energy harvest performance and reduce NPC by up to 7%. It is also found that there is no significant difference in cost reduction between both systems. Moreover, STS is feasible if the cost is less than 375 USD and 250 USD for Sudan and South Sudan, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this research is to examine the techno-economic viability of both off-grid and on-grid hybrid renewable energy systems for Jordan's Al-Karak governorate. Hybrid Optimization of Multiple Energy Resources (HOMER) Pro software was used in this article to evaluate the carry feasibility to maximize the renewable energy (RE) integration in hybrid energy systems based on different configurations, grid-connected and stand-alone systems of the wind turbine, biogas plant, photovoltaic (PV) panels, flywheel, and batteries while minimizing the net present cost, the Levelized cost of energy and CO2 emissions mitigation. The results showed that the PV/Wind system, connected to the grid with batteries for storage is the optimal configuration for sustainable Al-Karak governorate electrification whilst achieving environmental benefits and guaranteeing reliable and continuous energy access with the lowest net present cost and the Levelized cost, 298,359 USD$ and 0.024 USD$/kWh respectively, and high RE share, 71.8% of electricity is generated from wind and 28.2% is purchased from the grid and emits 220 tons of CO2 per year, 53% less than a grid alone system. Such a system would provide advantages in terms of energy independence and improved environmental quality. • A hybrid renewable energy system for Jordan's Al Karak governorate was optimized. • Six different scenarios of renewable energy systems were examined. • The impact of the optimal configuration on GHG emission was analyzed. • PV/Wind/batteries system, connected to grid was the optimal configuration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• An affordable and reliable grid connected hybrid energy system is selected to supply electrical loads in the rural area. • Size of SPV and battery bank are optimized along with grid power sell or purchase. • The available biogas is used to supply the cooking demand. • Batteries such as lead acid, nickel iron and lithium ion are compared during the simulation for their selection as a component of the hybrid energy system. In the developing countries, rural and remote sites are rarely connected with the national grid due to the lack of transmission and distribution infrastructure. The development of hybrid renewable energy model is an alternate solution to provide electricity accessibility in such areas. In the present research work, a grid-connected hybrid system model has been developed based on the available renewable resources. The proposed model consists of local renewable sources i.e., solar and biomass along with batteries for storage purposes. Major objectives of the study are to optimize the sizing of PV panels and batteries with power sales or purchases from the grid. The net present cost of the system has been minimized which is subjected to power reliability, SOC of batteries, upper and lower bound of SPV and batteries. Discrete Harmony Search (DHS) Algorithm has been adopted to optimize the system. Among the various considered scenarios, optimal configuration includes 30 kW biomass, 83.50 kWp solar PV, 78.70 kW converter and 38.40 kWh battery bank. Further, the optimization result yields the minimum cost of energy and net present cost as 4.66 INR/kWh and 13.07 million INR respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study explores the techno-economic feasibility and viability of a Photovoltaic-Diesel Hybrid system for rural electrification in sub-Sahara Africa with a case study of Chilubi island, a remote district without access to electricity in the Northern Province of Zambia. Using HOMER (Hybrid Optimization of Multiple Electric Renewables) Pro software, the best and most feasible technical solutions through different hybrid system configurations, combinations and the district's rate of access to electricity were considered based on the least Levelized Cost of Energy (LCoE) and life cycle costs of the project. The results show that operating diesel generators as stand-alone is not economically sustainable and has a high LCoE. Influencing factors include variability in diesel pump prices, high fuel transportation costs, high cost of operation and maintenance, among other factors of concern. 100% photovoltaic (PV) with a battery system gave the lowest LCoE. However, the initial capital cost of solar energy projects in Zambia is relatively high compared to the equivalent diesel-based plants, as shown herein. It explains why diesel power plants are favoured for off-grid settlements. On the hand, the low operational cost and LCoE of PV power plants favour rural districts as they offset the high initial capital costs. Additionally, the continued downward trend in the cost of PV installations per kWp has opened discussions among policymakers and energy planners in Zambia to favour rural electrification with renewable energy-based power generation. This study contributes to this discussion. • Grid extension is costly for rural electrification in Southern Africa. • Offgrid PV-Diesel generation microgrids are options for cheaper electricity. • Techno-economic analysis herein favours high penetration of PV and storage. • $ 1 increase in fuel increases LCoE by $ 0.283 and vice versa. • PV-hybrids are expensive and may require government interventions to implement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid fall of photovoltaic generation and battery storage costs can pave the way for future distributed power systems. However, transitioning from centralized to distributed systems has economic implications for different power sector stakeholders: incumbent energy firms, new distributed generation investors, and consumers. Consumers can significantly increase demand by adopting electric transport, a crucial component of decarbonization. In turn, investors and firms will need to provide the capital and operating capability to supply more power, even for self-consumption. In this paper, we develop a methodology to assess the future average price of electricity for two fundamentally different systems: one based on utility-scale projects and another based on distributed generation. We also evaluate how prices affect the financial benefits of energy sector investors and transport users that result from transport electrification. We apply the methodology to Costa Rica's transport electrification objectives, a middle-income country with vast renewable generation capacity with pledges to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. We find that the future unit costs of solar and wind generation with energy storage infrastructure affect electricity prices more than other uncertainties. In turn, prices have a high correlation with transport benefits. We also find that low discount rates produce high benefits and low electricity prices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New financing in clean energy technologies plays a progressively important role in increasing energy access in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This research investigates the salient social dimensions of clean electricity access with the view to identify the most suitable SSA countries for funding and implementing decentralised renewable energy systems and sheds light on the opportunities for improving social conditions through clean electrification. Our multi-dimensional analysis of social considerations culminates in the Social Clean Energy Access (Social CEA) Index. The composite indicator structure was empirically tested and improved in terms of accuracy and robustness for 35 SSA countries. The Social CEA index captures the status of social factors on health, education, economic development, gender equality, and quality of life related to electricity access. The Social CEA Index strength is assessed by exploring the synergies between electricity access and social development and its progress over time is evaluated through a dimension's breakdown approach in Ghana. • The Social CEA Index allows an effective identification of priorities for action in clean electrification programs; • The innovation of the Index is due to its tailored design focusing on the social dimensions of electricity access; • The country level Social CEA Index depicts an unequal situation in terms of social aspects between African countries; • The focus on the Ghana case shows that electricity is a central dimension to reduce poverty and support economic growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Greenhouse gas emissions and PM2.5 pollution from vehicular exhausts and the consequent negative externalities underline the urgency of investigating low-carbon pathways for the freight sector. This paper undertakes a comprehensive analysis to determine the implications of a modal shift in the freight sector for the environment, energy systems and the economy. Stakeholder consultations are used to develop the qualitative narratives that are further used to set the parameters in energy-economy optimization models for deriving quantitative pathways. Our analysis includes four scenarios: Current Policy (CPS), Road Focused (FROAD), Rail Technology (TRAIL) and Harmonized Multimodal (HMML). The HMML scenario follows a balanced approach harmonizing the twin goals of reducing imported fuels and carbon emissions that can simultaneously assist in achieving development and decarbonization targets. Our results show that the HMML scenario based on the multimodal approach of creating a level playing field for all modes can reduce fossil fuel imports by 87.6% and CO 2 emissions by 96%, relative to CPS in 2050. The HMML scenario also envisages significant macroeconomic benefits – the cost of logistics as a percentage of GDP falls to 11%, and there are cumulative foreign exchange savings of 3.8 trillion USD from 2016 to 2050. However, electrification, the leading technology for the respective decarbonizing modes, will need policies that enhance research and innovation on batteries and infrastructure investments for charging along national and state highways. The main policy insight from our analysis is that multimodal logistics policy needs to be designed in alignment with clean energy-based electrification policy and national rail plans so that uniform rules from the origin govern all modes to the destination of goods transport. • Modelling energy economy to analyse implications of modal shift. • Combining stakeholder consultations with quantitative evaluations. • Multimodal approach achieves development and mitigation goals at the same time. • Over 80% of savings on imports of fossil fuels are possible by 2050 relative to the current policy scenario. • Cumulative foreign exchange savings of 3.8 trillion USD can be achieved from 2016 to 2050. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mini-grids are discussed as a cost-effective and sustainable solution to provide electricity to populations lacking access, of which the majority reside in sub-Saharan Africa. Projects struggle to be fiscally solvent, however, in part because electricity demand from rural households is low relative to installed mini-grid generation and distribution capacity, making it difficult to recoup investment costs. This paper explores how productive uses of electricity may increase electricity demand and evaluates impacts of increased electrical load to the technical and economic metrics of mini-grid projects. A full cashflow analysis is completed to evaluate business model efficacy for mini-grid developers and investors for a case study of a township in Sierra Leone. Productive uses of electricity are shown to have minimal improvement to the financial viability of residential mini-grid projects, and subsidies are required to reach financial metrics suitable to attract private investment. Of the productive uses investigated, year-round loads had the most positive impact to payback periods. Seasonal loads offer only small improvements to payback period and internal rate of return because they require extra generation assets to meet peak demand in the high season that are left idle or heavily under-loaded during the low season. Overall, the study finds the most effective way to improve financial outcomes through productive uses is to increase the mini-grid load factor with productive uses of electricity that operate year-round. • PUE interventions that increase mini-grid load factor improve project financials. • Higher load factors better utilized hybrid systems with generator, solar, storage. • PUE type and load profile significantly affects mini-grid design and financials. • Constant-load PUE types improved financials over seasonal loads. • Seasonal PUEs increase capital costs that go largely unused during the off-season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper examines the dynamics of rural electrification in India and explores the transition to a complementary convergence of decentralised and centralised electricity systems for sustainable rural electricity services. A novel socio-technical framework of analysis for assessment of cases of rural electricity systems is developed and applied in Indian villages to explore the interplays of different elements of rural electricity systems, enabling and hindering factors, and actors and institutions that affect the governance and sustenance of rural electrification. A mixed research method, along with document analysis, was applied to study the socio-technical perspectives, using 21 indicators representing nine different interplays of elements of rural electricity systems. The analysis reveals there is a significant effect of governance on technology performance, which in turn affects customer practices. There is also a significant correlation between customer practices and governance. Policy enablers along with strong institutions and actors - both at the subnational and local level - are key drivers to effective governance. Furthermore, irrespective of centralised or decentralised technology, adequacy and reliability of electricity supply and effective customer service delivery at the local level are important i.e., both supply reliability and quality, and customer service quality are equally important. The findings have clear policy implications for the governance of the electricity sector in India. • A novel sociotechnical framework for assessing village electrification is developed. • Novel framework tests interplays of various elements of the electricity system. • There is a significant correlation between governance & performance of technology. • There is also a significant effect of technology performance on customer practices. • Policy enablers, strong institutions & actors are drivers to effective governance. • A mix of decentralised & centralised electric system will have a better outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Unpacks the co-constitutive links between energy justice and socio-spatial contexts. • Focuses on the Indonesian government's vision of universal rural electrification. • Energy justice vision as a state spatial project in relation to territory. • Multiple legal interventions characterise the state-led quest for energy justice. • Reveals the contradictions in reifying the state as a main enabler of energy access. This article seeks to examine the material implications of the emergence of an energy justice (energi berkeadilan) vision in Indonesia, paying particular attention to the state's spatial practice to achieve such a vision in the form of rural electrification programs including the deployment of off-grid decentralised renewables. Informed by semi-structured interviews, participant observation and secondary data analysis, we contribute to the growing conversations on geographical political economy of energy transitions by closely attending to the multiple space-making processes characterising the Indonesian government's pursuit of their energy justice vision. Inspired by Henri Lefebvre's ideas on state space and territory, we begin by unravelling the historical connection between the rise of energy justice vision and the Indonesian state attempts to maintain and expand its territorial reach through rural electrification, as evidenced throughout the country's contemporary political economies and its earlier history of postcolonial struggles. We simultaneously unpack various legal mechanisms and instruments underpinning the government's efforts to deliver energy justice promises by way of universal electricity access, demonstrating the centrality of such strategies in the (re)production of state territories. Through inquiring how energy justice is mobilised by (and for) the Indonesian state, our study illustrates that such everyday state-making processes entail a calculative technique as another form of territorial intervention that obscures the reality of socio-spatially uneven and fragmented electricity access in rural Indonesia. Such findings, we suggest, reveal the contradictions in the state's repositioning as a main enabler of energy access provision and, more broadly, a socially just energy transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mini-grids are expected to be the least cost option to electrify more than half a billion people living predominantly in isolated communities in sub-Saharan Africa. Providing a high reliability of power supply to satisfy paying customers is vital for the challenging business case of mini-grid owners. Therefore, renewable-based mini-grids of the third generation commonly include either diesel generators or battery storage for backup power supply. Power-to-hydrogen-to-power (P2H2P) is a promising alternative to overcome technical, financial, and social shortcomings of diesel generators and batteries. Previous research highlights the challenging economic competitiveness of P2H2P in specific case studies only. Here, we conduct a model-based techno-economic analysis on an archetypal representative mini-grid to compare the economic performance of P2H2P against the diesel generator and battery storage. We identify key parameters decisive for the competitiveness of P2H2P via sensitivity analysis. Under today's conditions, P2H2P is financially viable in 100 % decarbonized mini-grid systems. Ongoing trends of increased fuel price and P2H2P technology improvements must continue to achieve economic advantages of P2H2P over the diesel generator. However, P2H2P is competitive in locations in which the diesel price is higher than 2.6 USD/l or when P2H2P investment costs drop by >50 %, which is expected beyond 2040. Sensitivity analysis shows that increasing P2H2P system efficiency can substantially benefit the economic performance. Seasonal variations on the African continent are insufficient to create exploitable advantages of P2H2P against the short-term storage of batteries. The results suggest especially larger future PV mini-grids to combine battery storage and P2H2P rather than including common diesel generators or only including batteries when trends towards cheaper and more efficient technologies continue and diesel prices increase. Future work should investigate economic effects of the unique multi-usability of hydrogen on the mini-grid system, such as the usage as clean cooking fuel. • Optimization of a representative mini-grid system including PV, power-to-hydrogen-to-power, battery, and diesel generator. • Techno-economic assessment of the power-to-hydrogen-to-power system, including sensitivity analysis. • A combination of battery and power-to-hydrogen-to-power is the least cost option for 100% decarbonized energy supply. • Technology improvements suggest future mini-grids to include PV, battery, and power-to-hydrogen-to-power backup systems. • Reallocation of fossil fuel subsidies to P2H2P systems may harmonize with sustainable policies and reduce investment barriers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lack of access to electricity and clean water still affects a substantial proportion of rural areas worldwide, in particular the global south. This paper presents a sustainable polygeneration system that can provide electricity, heat, and drinking water by using agricultural residues in remote rural areas. This polygeneration system consists of a solid biomass-fueled Brayton-Stirling combined cycle system, a boiler, and an air-gap membrane distillation unit. Four different system operation modes were designed to examine the most ideal configurations for maximizing power output, overall efficiency, and/or clean water production, considering a polygeneration system designed for a rural village with daily demands of 13450 kWh electricity and 7.5 m3 drinking water. A thermodynamic analysis are employed to analyze and compare these modes, each operating under steady state conditions. The highest electricity output, up to 160 kW, while the highest clean water is up to 0.7 m3/h. The fuel consumption can reach 0.9 kWh/kg of solid fuel and provide up to 0.0045 m3 of freshwater. In addition, nonlinear multi-objective optimization is used to meet the power demands of typical day in rural areas by varying the polygeneration operation modes and turbine inlet temperature. [Display omitted] • A solid bio-fuel based polygeneration system is developed for a rural village. • It consists of a Brayton-Stirling cycle, a boiler and a membrane distillation unit. • A thermodynamic study is conducted for comparing four designed operation modes. • Flexible operation can be achieved by combining the four operation modes. • The system can provide 1359 kWh electricity and 7.5 m3 clean water per day. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the complex origins of energy poverty, focusing on economic, technological, and infrastructural aspects through the analysis of peer-reviewed articles using Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA). By identifying key themes such as "energy scarcity," "energy accessibility," and "sustainable energy," the study emphasizes the urgent need for sustainable and accessible energy solutions. It highlights the shift towards community-led renewable energy initiatives as a critical strategy to achieve climate goals and support a low-carbon future. The research addresses the socio-economic impacts of energy poverty on household income and development, particularly in developing countries. It explores the challenges associated with solar energy in rural electrification and the dynamics of rural energy use and policy. The findings emphasize the importance of region-specific strategies and policies that address the unique challenges faced by rural communities. By advocating for equitable energy distribution and the adoption of renewable resources, the study provides a comprehensive understanding of the critical issues at play. This investigation offers valuable insights for policymakers aiming to combat energy poverty and promote environmental sustainability. It contributes to a deeper understanding of how targeted strategies can alleviate energy poverty and foster sustainable development, supporting efforts towards achieving net-zero emissions and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The study highlights the potential for community-driven initiatives to significantly impact the global energy landscape by presenting perspectives on energy policy and technology rollouts. [Display omitted] • Uses KMeans clustering and Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) for topic analysis. • Identifies key themes: scarcity, access, and sustainability. • Highlights community-led renewable energy's role. • Shows energy poverty's socio-economic impacts. • Advocates for equitable energy policies and renewables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As global efforts to decarbonise industries continue, there is increasing pressure to identify and proliferate sustainable methods of generating electricity, in-line with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal 7. The in-stream water wheel is a pico-hydropower technology that generates electricity using only the kinetic energy in the fluid, rather than both potential and kinetic, like most forms of pico-hydropower. Current methods of estimating the power output of these turbines lack validation, robustness and proper justification for their assumptions. This study has developed a new method for predicting the power output of in-stream water wheels, based on fluid dynamics principles, and has been compared with a range of experimental results to confirm its robustness. The new model identifies novel characteristics of the power stroke of the turbine blade, including unsteady effects and negative torque production at certain blade angles. In addition, the model can be tuned to match experimental data, improving its accuracy in specific applications. The better prediction of power output aims to encourage the use of in-stream water wheels as part of the global decarbonisation strategy. • Pico-hydropower for rural electrification. • Robust analytical prediction of kinetic in-stream water wheels. • Power prediction using fluid mechanics principles. • Greater modelling accuracy compared to existing models in literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Approximately 172 million rural households in China in 2022, will still rely on traditional biofuels instead of electricity. This study explores the feasibility of achieving rural electrification in China utilization various Energy origins and assesses its potential impact on climate change mitigation. To do so, we employ the Regional Energy Model (REM) to formulate hypotheses for rural power distribution. Covering the era from 2020 until 2050. We evaluate consequences in terms of greenhouse gas discharges, principal energy consumption, associated expenses by comparing these possibilities with a Business- as -Usual (BU) scenario. Our findings reveal that diesel-based arrangements tend to produce 'the maximum Carbon Dioxide (CO2) emissions, trailed by network-based solutions. Electrification focused on renewable energy-driven applications has the potential to reduce total CO2 emissions by up to 97 % and primary energy consumption by 43 % in 2050 compared to the BU scenario. We also find that electrification through decentralized diesel systems tends to be the priciest choice. Rural electrification utilizing renewable energy emerges as a cost-effective choice when the majority of end-use applications rely on renewable energy sources. However, it becomes less economical than network expansions when electric end-user appliances are predominant. In summary, this study investigates the viability of renewable energy for rural power distribution and its role in climate change abatement in rural China, offering policy suggestions. • Analyzes six energy-based scenarios for China's rural electrification until 2050. • Evaluates GHG emissions, energy use, and costs impacts with regional energy model. • Provides policy insights and uncertainties for China's sustainability goals. • An oil price and distance-based analysis also is done with extra 6 scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research paper focuses on techno-economic modeling and optimal sizing of autonomous hybrid microgrid systems. The optimal configuration of the suggested stand-alone system was performed by developing a size optimization model based on the metaheuristic novel Grasshopper Optimization algorithm (GOA) method to minimize the Total Net Present Cost (TNPC), unmet load, and Cost of Energy (COE) in the Nsukka Community which comprises 88 villages. The GOA and HOMER Pro Software are employed to compare results across four possible configurations of hybrid renewable power systems (HRES). The comparative analysis between GOA and HOMER shows that configuration-4 (biogas/Diesel), emerges as the optimal solution, with a 0 % unmet load at the COE of $0.01783 per kWh. The findings indicated that the GOA-based HRES, with a higher saturation of Biogas and photovoltaics (PV), proves to be more affordable in comparison to the HOMER-based solutions. The reduction in the COE and NPC of renewable energy for peak demands highlights the growing importance of biogas generators as an affordable local power supply to meet energy demands. This underscores the potential of the GOA in optimizing hybrid renewable energy systems for remote communities, producing an economically viable and sustainable energy solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Meeting the targets of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7, which focuses on ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all, poses significant challenges. Overcoming these hurdles requires innovative solutions that can bridge the gap between current capabilities and future needs. Swarm electrification emerges as a promising concept that could accelerate progress towards achieving SDG 7 goals by leveraging the collective power of decentralized energy resources. This paper presents a literature review on swarm electrification and related insights from case studies. The study delves into the concept of swarm electrification, placing it within the context of the prevailing trends in the power system sector: decentralization, decarbonization, and digitalization. It examines the role of digital technologies in enhancing swarm electrification and categorizes application areas according to the phases of swarm electrification. Particular attention is given to the technologies underpinning Deep Digitalization, such as distributed ledger technology, notably blockchain, and artificial intelligence, with a focus on machine learning. These technologies play pivotal roles in advancing swarm electrification. The review demonstrates how deep digitalization can facilitate the improvement of swarm electrification and ultimately support the integration of bottom-up initiatives with top-down grid expansion efforts over time. [Display omitted] • Defined Swarm Electrification (SE) within power system's terminology. • Linked SE to 3Ds: Decentralization, Decarbonization, Digitalization. • Power system's decentralization and SE both unify into local energy communities. • Digital tech can enable and improve SE. • Machine learning and blockchain are highly relevant in SE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Residential carbon reduction is crucial for China to reach its carbon peak target by 2030. This study focuses on Wuhan and examines the structural characteristics of residential energy consumption and carbon emission using survey data. The analysis takes into account scenarios that consider 2030 carbon peaking constraint. The findings reveal that urban residents exhibit higher electrification compared to rural residents, with electricity consumption being the largest contributor to carbon emission. Private cars constitute the primary source of energy consumption and carbon emissions in transportation. Under the current "Wuhan 14th Five-Year Plan", it is unlikely that direct carbon emission from residents will peak by 2030. To advance the peak of residential direct carbon emission, increasing energy-saving building retrofits and improving household energy efficiency are necessary, which can reduce CO 2 by 1.19 Mt. Controlling private car usage, promoting clean energy vehicles, and enhancing vehicle energy efficiency also have the carbon reduction potential with 2.65 Mt. Technological advancements leading to improvements in energy intensity and carbon intensity can help suppress overall carbon emission despite population growth and economic factors contributing to increased CO 2 levels. In terms of indirect carbon emission, urban residents exhibit significantly higher consumption levels compared to rural residents but have similar consumption patterns. Housing condition shows the highest intensity of indirect energy consumption (144.9 gce·CNY−1) and carbon emission (368.9 g CO 2 ·CNY−1). COVID-19 may have a promotion effect on direct energy consumption, and a limited impact on indirect energy consumption. [Display omitted] • The structure of Wuhan residents' energy consumption and carbon emission is surveyed. • Driving factors of residential carbon emission peaking are explored. • Decarbonization of power system is the key to reduce residents' CO 2. • Housing Condition is the highest intensity of indirect carbon emission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Effective utilisation of available renewable resources in rural region of Bihar for sustainable rural electrification. • Design of optimal model of on-grid as well as off-grid hybrid configuration of active distribution network (ADN) on integration of PV/biomass resources. • A comparative assessment for effective performance and management of produced energy of both on-grid as well as off-grid active distribution network has been done. • A proper investigation and assessment of proposed active distribution network on several techno-economic attributes has been performed. • Analysis of feasibility and pertinency of active distribution network for selected rural region on environmental concerns has been also done. • Impact of various dependent variable assessment on cost of energy and total net present cost for the practicality of proposed active distribution network has been done. Majority of rural areas in India have already been electrified, yet the disparity between demand and supply is considerably higher and broadened due to which nation's rapid financial growth as well as rising standards of living in both the urban as well as rural areas. Hence, the utilisation of renewable resources is rising steadily for the mitigation of such energy crisis. It has become necessity to use a hybrid sustainable energy system by exploiting the strengths of each source in combination with one another to minimise the dependence on the congested power grid. For the efficient use of readily available renewable energy and sustainable rural electrification, this study proposes an effective Active Distribution Network (ADN). A comprehensive techno-economic analysis has been performed on the design of an ADN system that includes the exploitation of solar and biomass energy as sources of power for sustainable rural electrification. In the proposed work, performance assessment elements such as output responses, component costs, feasibility and sensitivity of the project, emissions, inflation rate, and changing the pricing of integrant have been taken into consideration and analysed. Results shows the improvement in rural electrical system while lowering system energy costs along with consideration of environmental impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we examine the impact of rural electrification on women empowerment. Previous studies have examined this relationship mainly using self-reported measures of empowerment, and experimental approaches. We conduct an incentive-compatible framed field experiment in a natural household setting. We modify the public goods game by introducing a trade-off between real household items and cash in three scenarios: a woman-only case, a man-only case, and a joint decision case. We then construct a women empowerment index ranging between 0 and 1. A joint decision closer to 1 indicates greater bargaining power for the wife, while a joint decision closer to 0 indicates greater bargaining power for the husband. We then apply propensity score matching to address potential selection bias. We find households in rural electrification villages, to have higher women empowerment index. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On the social index of access to clean energy, the country of CHAD is one of the least electrified in the world and the last in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), with only 11.3% of its population having electricity access. The access is considerably lower in rural areas of CHAD (1.3%), meaning that 98.7% of the Chadian rural population currently depends on the unsustainable and polluting fuels such as wood and charcoal to meet their energy needs. The absence of electricity is also an opportunity to find a new solution for sustainable, clean, affordable and reliable electricity, which is a prerequisite for social and economic growth. This paper proposes an approach for performing a techno-economic, environmental, and social assessment based on optimal modeling of PV/wind/battery/fuel cell systems in both connected to the grid and standalone configurations for delivering electricity to rural areas within the context of CHAD using MATLAB R2023b to implement and run two (2) meta-heuristic optimization methods: Non-dominate Sorting Genetic Algorithm and Cuckoo Search Algorithm. To fulfill this purpose, we used 2 study cases in two (2) regions of the Sahelian zone of CHAD (MASSAKORY in the HADJER-LAMIS region and MAO in the KANEM region) with geographical coordinates of 13°00′N 15°44′E and 14° 7′ 16" N et 15° 18' 37" E, respectively. The hourly load profile data for a whole year, the hourly metrological data and the characteristics techno-economic of the proposed system components are utilized for the same purpose. The Annualized System Cost (ASC) and the System Self-Sufficiency Index (SSSI) were chosen as objective functions. The simulation results demonstrate that the Net Present Cost (NPC) of proposed systems are $2,107,900 (grid connected), $ 512,650 (off-grid), the cost of the grid is $2100, the LCOE is 0.1457$/kWh (grid connected), 0.0538$/kWh (off-grid), and the LCOH is 2.2892 US $/kg. These last two criteria are the lowest in comparison to the findings of previous work conducted in CHAD by HOMER Pro. The yearly equivalent avoided Greenhouse gas (GHG) is 460,480 kg (grid connected system), 463,467 kg (off-grid system), the grid GHG emission is 3400 kg and the renewable energy sources fraction is 99.27%. Each of proposed systems will create four (4) new jobs and improve the HDI by 5.93% (grid connected system HDI = 0.4216) and 25.04% (off-grid system HDI = 0.4991). This study could help designers, companies, investors, policymakers, and the government of CHAD in decision-making during the installation of such a system in specific rural areas and also provide a better practical energy design tool. • A multi-criteria optimal sizing of an off-grid and grid-connected hybrid photovoltaic-wind system with battery and fuel cell storage system was proposed to give access to sustainable, affordable, reliable, and clean energy for rural electrification in CHAD. • Two (2) well-known metaheuristic optimization algorithms, the Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm (NSGA-II) and the Cuckoo Search Algorithm (CSA), are implemented in MATLAB 2023b to size the proposed systems optimally. • A techno-economic, environmental, and social analysis was performed for the optimization of the systems sizing considering the two (2) configurations (grid-connected and off-grid) and two study cases in two (2) regions of the Sahelian zone of CHAD. • Results showed significant social, environmental, economic, and system reliability improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global climate action is the grand challenge of the 21st century. Large reductions in greenhouse gas emissions are needed, with net-zero CO 2 emissions by mid-century a requirement for many scenarios that restrain global warming below 1.5 °C by 2100. This will require massive deployment of renewables such as ground-based solar and wind, increased long-distance grid transmission capacity, and electrification of much of the global economy. Increased electrification, coupled with rising standards of living in developing countries, will drive ever-larger electricity demand to 2050 and beyond. And the intermittency, land-use, and transmission requirements of ground-based solar and wind present challenges to large-scale deployment to meet Net Zero targets. Space-based solar power (SSP) presents an enticing alternative, and with full reusability of upcoming heavy launch vehicles and modular SSP architectures, the economics of deployment are expected to become favorable in the coming decades. Efforts exist today to deploy demonstrators this decade, with initial production systems by 2050. However, deploying SSP at the scale required to address rising, global electricity demand will itself require orders-of-magnitude greater launch frequencies. If heavy launch frequency does not increase quickly enough, due to environmental concerns, launch site competition, or other bottlenecks, the dropping cost of launch will not be sufficient to enable SSP for global impact this century. A space elevator (SE) development program like that proposed by the International Space Elevator Consortium (ISEC) offers an alternative delivery mechanism for scaling SSP beyond 2050, hedging the risk of reliance on a single delivery system while reducing the time required for large-scale SSP deployment. To de-risk possible futures in which SSP is a major part of the global energy mix this century, a dual space access architecture is proposed, leveraging the strengths of heavy launch and SEs together. Such an architecture would secure the future for green energy on Earth, in 2050 and beyond. • Net-zero CO 2 emissions by 2050 required for many climate scenarios with < 1. 5 °C warming. • Massive deployment of renewables and scale-ups of long-distance transmission required. • Space-based solar power (SSP) is becoming economically viable as an enticing alternative. • Reusable heavy launch must scale-up rapidly to deploy SSP at scale for net-zero. • A space elevator development program would de-risk delivery of SSP at scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The work done in this paper provides the solutions for power access to rural and remote areas in developing nations. • The proposed affordable solution offers many advantages over the traditional central inverters. It provides more output power as compared to traditional central inverters under shading and dusting conditions. The results are validated through experimental investigation with regard to Indian weather conditions. • The proposed solution presents an optimal sizing strategy for Economically Weaker Section (EWS) for the low power rural household application. In literature, this kind of solution is yet not reported which makes this work novel. • This work presents the customized design of solar microinverter based PV System for different power provisioning levels for rural EWS houses. The proposed solution has an added advantage of addition of load in future without change in existing infrastructure. Reliable power supply is the key requirement for developing nations. Most of these nations are trying to modernize the rural lives by electrification in remote areas. Access to electricity is a bare requirement in future ages. This paper discusses the challenges faced by the utility companies in ensuring sustained electricity access to the new consumers followed by the various solutions. The techno – economic aspects of the proposed solution is validated by the experimental study. Based on the results, an optimal low-cost design is proposed in order for everyone to fulfil the minimum power needs. The paper presents an optimal size strategy for Economically Weaker Section (EWS) for the low power rural household application. The solar microinverter based PV System has been designed based on the daily load needs for one of the proposed layout plans of the (Gramin) Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna adopted by Government of India. The proposed designs are also applicable for other developing nations. The proposed micro-inverter has been tested under different operating conditions and experimental validation proves its superiority over other inverter types, particularly for a low power application, as is the case for a typical low-income rural household. Economic considerations such as payback period has also been evaluated in this study. In addition, the proposed microinverter technology has also been tested in terms of power quality parameters under various operating conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Significant increases in renewable energy are needed in electricity systems in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, particularly in the face of increasing electricity demand arising from the electrification of heat and transport. Greater flexibility is required in the electricity system to facilitate this, using proven flexibility providers such as batteries and interconnection or new technologies yet to be proven. This paper investigates how the relationship between battery and interconnection development and carbon price can impact carbon dioxide emissions and renewable energy curtailment. The study simulates twenty-eight scenarios and sensitivities using a unit commitment and economic dispatch model of a 2030 European power system that acknowledges that coal will not be fully eliminated from the 2030 generation mix. The results show that interconnection and battery deployment can alleviate renewable energy curtailment by over 2.4 TWh for the basecase, but a high carbon price is critical to ensuring their deployment plays a complementary role in reducing emissions. The paper also examines the impact of batteries and interconnection on solar and wind energy curtailment. It reveals that battery development nearly doubled the solar energy benefits achieved by interconnection development in some cases, while wind energy benefited more from interconnection development. • A high CO 2 price is critical to IC and batteries achieving emissions reductions. • IC can facilitate production of cheaper higher emitting fuels when CO 2 price is low. • Solar energy benefits more from deployment of batteries due to similar timescales. • Diversity of wind profiles can be leveraged with increased interconnection. • Regardless of CO 2 price IC and batteries alleviate renewable energy curtailment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, higher penetrations of renewable energy generations helped persuade sustainable energy and environmental targets, although their intermittent and fluctuated nature raised technical challenges. However, hybrid power system can minimize these technical issues by integrating flexible generation capable renewable energy sources like biomass. This study deals with optimizing grid-integrated and stand-alone biomass-based hybrid power system for the energy demand of a rural region containing poultry farms. Besides solar and wind energy, energy storage integration is evaluated regarding overall technical-environmental-economic performance, considering the actual manure potential using HOMER Pro. In addition, sensitivity analyses are performed, considering the estimated load and inflations using an artificial neural network method. Using biomass and solar hybrid options offers more autonomous, environmentally friendly, and economic advantages. Biomass-based hybrid power system with solar energy reduced net present cost by around 12% and increased renewable fraction by 7%, and grid-connected options can provide 88.9% renewable fraction. In addition, the energy storage integration increased renewable fraction by around 10% and reduced excess energy by 16%. The proposed biomass-based hybrid power system achieves cost-effective sizing of solar or wind-based hybrid systems, empowers the reliability of renewable energy and presents good consistency of decarbonization targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Autonomous micro-grids based on solar photovoltaic (PV) are one of the most promising solutions to provide electricity access in many regions worldwide. Different storage/PV capacities can produce the same level of quality service, but an optimal design is typically identified to minimize the levelized cost of electricity. This cost optimization however relies on technical and economic hypothesis that come with large uncertainties and/or spatial disparities. This article explores the sensitivity of the optimal sizing to variations and uncertainties of such parameters. Using data from Heliosat and ERA5, we simulate the solar PV production and identify the least cost configurations for 200 locations in Africa. Our results show that the optimal configuration is highly dependent on the characteristics of the resource, and especially on its co-variability structure with the electric demand on different timescales. It is conversely rather insensitive to cost hypotheses, which allow us to propose simple pre-sizing rules based on the only characteristics of the solar resource and electricity demand. The optimal storage capacity can be estimated from the 75th percentile of the daily nocturnal demand and the optimal PV capacity from the mean demand and the standard deviation of the daily power difference between solar production and demand. • The least-cost configuration of 100 % PV micro-grids in Africa are relatively robust to economic assumptions • These optimal configurations are highly sensitive to the co-variability of the solar resource and the electric demand • Simple sizing rules can approach these optimal microgrid configurations using characteristics of this co-variability • These rules can accurately estimate the levelized cost of electricity for different load profiles and economic assumptions [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable development of the inherently complex nature of the energy sector requires a comprehensive understanding of its components and their dynamic interactions. In this study, we employ a system dynamics approach to examine the impact of renewable energy systems and energy efficiency on the performance of the energy sector, and apply this, as a case study example, to the Australian energy sector. Our results show that improving only 1% of energy efficiency would result in 101k/331k GWh energy productivity (5% and 14% of total energy consumption) and reduce domestic CO 2 emissions by 15.3/50 Mt CO 2 -e (4% and 10% of total domestic emissions) by 2030/2050. Switching to renewable energy for transportation and therefore saving 5% per year of current oil consumption may decrease dependency on oil to half by 2030 and to zero by 2050, and reduce domestic CO 2 emissions by 74.1/198 Mt CO 2 -e (18% and 41% of total domestic emissions). Switching to renewable electricity by 3% annually may lead to 60.8/129 Mt CO 2 -e reduction in domestic CO 2 emissions (15% and 27% of total domestic emissions) by 2030/2050. Electrification of other sectors, mainly the manufacturing sector, increasing the use of renewable energy by 4% annually, may lead to 43.3/106 Mt CO 2 -e reduction in domestic CO 2 emissions (11% and 22% of total domestic emissions) by 2030/2050. Improving energy efficiency, switching to renewable energy for transportation, switching to renewable electricity, electrification of sectors that do not currently run on electricity with the use of renewable energy could achieve zero domestic CO 2 emissions by 2050 while energy consumption stays almost stable (0.5%/year). This process may be accelerated by improving energy efficiency by more than 1%. • Energy efficiency increases energy security and reduces emissions. • Switching to renewable transportation reduces emissions and cuts oil dependency. • Switching to renewable electricity is crucial for reducing domestic CO 2 emissions. • Electrification of all sectors using RE is possible. • Synergy between energy efficiency and RE is crucial for a sustainable energy future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Strong linkages between niche, regime and landscape are observed across four decades in India. • Institutional innovations were critical in facilitating early developments of off-grid solar. • Actors influence and are influenced by the prevailing narratives during each phase. • While initial developments were pushed by governments, more recent efforts are coming from private actors including civil society and policy think tanks. • Reimagination of off-grid solar towards ' beyond lighting ' is taking place in wake of total electrification in India. Decentralized renewables are critical for rural electrification in many countries in the Global South. As a case study of the development of decentralized renewables, we trace the evolution of India's off-grid solar sector from 1980 through 2020. We apply the Multi-Level Perspective (MLP) to highlight interactions across three levels of actors, with additional attention to how their actions were shaped by evolving policy narratives. We find that the national government initiated the development of off-grid solar in the early 1980s due to concerns about energy security and rural poverty. The sector was then supported by international agencies focused on sustainable development, and more recently non-state players and private enterprise emerged as the innovators. This case study makes two more general contributions to the MLP literature. Empirically, it shows how regime actors can deliberately create niches. Theoretically, it shows how narrative analysis can be integrated into the MLP to shed light on the dynamics of energy transitions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The role of electricity in formation and performance of rural non-farm entrepreneurial ventures is widely debated. This study aims to understand how, in India, access to household electricity impacts rural households' decisions to take up entrepreneurial activities, operated within household premises. A panel dataset of nearly twenty thousand rural households carried out in the years 2004–05 and 2011–12 has been used to explore the impact of access to electricity on participation in rural non-farm enterprises using panel fixed-effects logit models. Further, the role of electricity access on earnings of non-farm enterprises is studied using Heckman two-stage selection models. It is concluded that electricity has a positive effect on the households' decision to establish non-farm enterprises operating within home premises. It is also found that, in the presence of the household electricity access, the income from business increases by 35.2% on an average. Upon extending the analysis to different groups of states, similar outcomes are observed for relatively rich states, states with relatively higher levels of rural electrification and states with relatively lower rates of rural electrification. In case of relatively poorer states, access to electricity enables a household to participate in the non-farm business sector but does not seem to have a statistically significant impact on their business income. • Access to electricity enables participation in home-based non-farm businesses in rural India. • Access to electricity increases earnings from such businesses, enhancing rural livelihood opportunities. • These results are robust across states with different electrification rates and relatively richer states. • In poorer states, electricity access enables participation in non-farm business, but has insignificant effect on earnings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the factors affecting access to clean cooking fuel among rural Indian households during the COVID-19 outbreak, based on World Bank's rural impact survey, covering 2731 rural households. Our analysis shows a significant decline in access to clean fuel among rural households from 35% in 2018 i.e. before COVID-19 to 19.7% during the COVID-19 pandemic. This implies that in order to meet their cooking needs, many rural households have switched from conventional fuels, which have numerous health and environmental concerns. The association between states and socio-demographic profiles of rural households with access to sources of cooking fuel shows a significant difference. The analysis results further indicate that socio-demographic characteristics and asset holdings of the rural households are the key factors that determine access to clean cooking fuel during COVID-19. Among the socio-demographic variables, age, gender, family size, social category, and income level are estimated to be significant factors that affect the access to clean fuel for cooking. Similarly, ownership of assets such as exclusive kitchen room, refrigerator, pressure cooker, television, and furniture are significant factors affecting access to clean cooking fuel among Indian rural households. Additionally, this study provides policy insights on developing mechanisms to ensure that rural households have an access to clean cooking fuel during crisis situations such as COVID-19. [Display omitted] • COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the access to clean cooking fuel among the rural households. • Only 19.7% of rural households have reported access to clean cooking fuels, which declined during COVID-19 lockdown • The majority of rural households use conventional sources of cooking fuels, which further increased during COVID-19 outbreak • Socio-demographic characteristics and asset holdings are determining factors on access to clean cooking fuel • A targeted strategy for promoting clean cooking fuel in rural India is essential [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The generation of electricity from Renewable Energy Sources (RES) in off-grid systems has increased rapidly over the last several years, mostly to satisfy regional electricity demand. The objective is to develop a hybrid PV/Wind/Battery/Diesel generator/ Power to Hydrogen (P2H) system configuration that can effectively and economically meet the energy demands. For an optimum design of a hybrid system, this work incorporates technical parameters (Loss of Power Supply Probability (LPSP), Renewable factor, PV fraction, and Wind fraction), economic factors (Cost of Energy (COE), Net Present Cost (NPC), and Annualized system cost (ASC)), social factor (Human Developing Index (HDI)) in the proposed design. A distinctive feature of the works is that it proposes a novel Improved Red-Tailed Hawk Algorithm (IRTHA) which utilizes a hybrid approach that incorporates nonlinear decay and chaotic map strategy for designing optimum hybrid systems. The effectiveness of the proposed IRTHA is determined by implementing it on the CEC 2019 benchmark problems and then comparing its outcomes with that of existing Metaheuristic (MH) algorithms. The proposed IRTHA and other MH algorithms are used to determine the appropriate size and conduct a techno-socio-enviro-financial evaluation of an HRES. The investigation reveals that the IRTHA has identified the most economical COE, NPC, and ASC of electricity for the selected site, which are determined to be 0.3772 $/kWh, 44,05,900 $, and 3,10,000 $/year respectively and these values are found to be economically efficient. Additionally, IRTHA demonstrates superior performance in mitigating the environmental pollutant CO 2 , with a maximum emission of just 549.8792 kg/year. Also, Lifetime model assessment of the design substantiate the results of the IRTHA. Finally, sensitivity analysis is conducted for the parameters such as solar radiation, wind speed, temperature, and component cost to determine a more feasible design. • An HRES consist of PV-WT-BES-DG-HESS is proposed for rural electrification. • Improved Red Tailed Hawk (IRTHA) algorithm is developed to find the optimal size of the system. • Comparison of IRTHA with other MH algorithms using CEC 2019 benchmark problems and validation of results by statistical tests. • Technical, economic, environmental, and social studies are conducted for designing the most efficient HRES. • Viability of HRES is evaluated by using lifetime assessment and Sensitivity analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rural electrification through low-voltage in isolated hybrid microgrids, with distributed renewable resources (DERs), contributes to sustainable development by offering reliable, decentralized and scalable electricity. However, this approach alleviates burden on the main grid and fosters socio-economic development. This requires an effective controller for efficient power management and maintaining voltage & frequency. The inherent challenges of low-voltage microgrids, power quality exacerbation by the non-linear loads, along the dynamic nature of DERs, underscore the complexity of these systems. The proposed work introduces a low-voltage synchronized bandpass filter-based cascaded PR controller for a single-phase isolated hybrid microgrid. This design aims to address the discussed research gaps and support various loads & applications for small-scale rural electrification. The system incorporates 3 kW wind and 2 kW solar energy generation, complemented by battery management systems and VSI to handle AC nonlinear loads uninterruptedly. It is designed to maintain the THD level within IEEE 519 standards and is tested with variable conditions for non-linear loads using several case studies. A comprehensive analysis is presented to show effective power management, precise voltage and frequency regulation. The laboratory hardware setup validates the VSI controller's real-world applicability for non-linear load maintaining THD level within standards. • A low-voltage synchronized BPF-based cascaded PR-controller for isolated microgrid. • Utilization of wind and solar energy with BMS for nonlinear AC loads. • Efficient power management and maintaining PCC voltage as per IEEE-519 standards. • Verification of the controller on VSI through experimental setup on hardware. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The way to produce and use energy is undergoing deep changes with the fast-pace introduction of renewables and the electrification of transportation and heating systems. As a consequence, the electrical grid sees much higher power variability than in the past, challenging its frequency and voltage regulation. Energy storage systems will be fundamental for ensuring the energy supply and the voltage power quality to customers. This survey paper offers an overview on potential energy storage solutions for addressing grid challenges following a "system-component-system" approach. Starting from system challenges, the energy storage technologies and their power electronics integration in the grid are described at component level considering the last scientific trends, including the hybrid energy storage concept. The impact of the energy storage technologies on the power systems are then described by exemplary large-scale projects and realistic laboratory assessment with Power Hardware In the Loop techniques, returning at system level. Finally, this work addresses some of the most important challenges for a sustainable and safe integration of energy storage systems, such as the circular economy and the safety aspects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the global electrification rate has reached 91 %, roughly 730 million people still live without reliable and affordable access to electricity, experiencing the first regression since 2013, following the COVID-19 crisis. In this context, this paper aims to define a comprehensive electrification strategy through an innovative model based on open-source data and machine learning algorithms, able to reduce the time and resource-consuming on-field campaign that is generally needed for gathering data, and subsequently define the electrification strategy. Following the location of human settlements and their socio-economic characterizations carried out by a novel open-source tool proposed within this paper named VANIA (Village ANalytics in Africa), the energy demand and hourly demand profile of each community are estimated through the application of machine learning techniques based on MTF (Multi-Tier Framework) surveys and a stochastic bottom-up model for load profile generation. The approach is designed to manage the complex nonlinear relationship between the energy needs of a community and its socio-demographic parameters. Then, taking the communities' demand profile as input, a GIS-facilitated procedure is utilized to optimize the electrification strategy for the territory under investigation, proposing the least-cost electrification solution. The final electrification plan focuses on long-term solutions enabling growth over time in which each community can be either connected to the national grid or supplied by an off-grid system. Ultimately, to demonstrate the approach and showcase its operational capabilities, the methodology is utilized for the electrification planning of the Naeder province in Tigray, Ethiopia, characterized by a predominantly lacking electrification status and low energy demand. The suggested solution advocates for the cost-efficient electrification of approximately 11,560 households clustered in 50 communities. Considering consolidated economic parameters and a perceived cost of electricity of 110 €/MWh showed a preference toward grid extension, with 39 out of 50 communities connected to the national grid. Finally, sensitivity analysis on the cost of energy showed that regardless of the value, 3 communities should be electrified with a microgrid, whereas for values upward of 130 €/MWh the microgrid starts becoming the more lucrative option, and at 145 €/MWh an extension is not economically justified. • A novel clustering, data processing and community characterization tool. • Leveraging the Multi-Tier Framework and socio-economic to apply machine learning for wide-scale energy assessment. • Utilization of daily energy requirements and a stochastic procedure for hourly demand profile generation. • Integrated optimization identifying the means of electrification of each community and a detailed georeferenced electric infrastructure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Techno-economic analysis of hybrid solar-wind-biomass-battery system is proposed. • Numerical modelling and varied operational scenarios for the system are formulated. • Evaluating system feasibility across various power loss probabilities is conducted. • Giza Pyramids construction outperformed by $177 saving and 8% less simulation time. The economical electrification of rural settlements extensively utilizes renewable energy sources. In recent years, the deployment of solar photovoltaic, wind turbine, and biomass gasifier-based power generation technologies for electricity accessibility in remote regions has received greater prominence. This paper presents an optimal component design of a hybrid solar PV-wind and battery system along with a biomass gasifier to provide continuous electricity for rural communities of Uttarakhand, India. In this study, a recently developed population-based giza pyramids construction (GPC) methodology is applied to determine the optimal component sizing. The findings of the GPC method are contrasted with the particle swarm optimization (PSO) methodology to assess the effectiveness of the proposed method. The annualized system cost and levelized cost of energy of the hybrid renewable energy system have been minimized subject to technical reliability indicators such as loss of power supply probability and renewable fraction. Moreover, a systematic exploration of the system has been conducted to assess its optimal feasibility across different values of power loss probability ranging from (0% to 4%). The simulation indicates that the proposed method adeptly identifies globally optimal values, leading to a $177 decrease in annual cost and 8% reduction in average simulation time compared to PSO. The research reveals that the balanced point (relative attainment), where system reliability and cost-effectiveness intersect optimally, is achieved at a 3% power loss level, resulting in the most significant cost reduction of $199 compared to other probability levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recent persistent power interruption in Nigeria has significantly disrupted commercial activities, resulting in a magnificent economic loss, supply chain ripples and revenue loss. As a result, harnessing renewable energy sources to generate electricity has become a popular choice for satisfying ever-increasing load demand and reducing apprehensions on global warming and reliance on depleted fossil fuels. The goal of this research is to determine whether powering a remote community with a hybrid energy system (HES) is technologically, financially and environmentally viable. The optimum design of a standalone HES with the diesel generator (DG), photovoltaic (PV) and battery storage system (BSS) is provided in this study to satisfy the electrical power needs of a farm settlement in Kura, Nigeria by considering generation constraints and load demand. This research work presents a genetic algorithm (GA) to minimize wearing cost of the system (WCS), minimize the land needed for the installation of the DG and PV system, minimize the total annual cost of the system (TAC) and maximize the benefit to cost ratio and revenue from electricity consumption. The findings of the research showed that PV/BSS/DG system is a prospective solution to satisfy the load requirements with least TAC of 67374 $/yr, annual maintenance cost (AMC) of 2808.2 $/yr, annual fuel cost (AFC) of 32300 $/yr and annual emission cost (AEC) of 774.2023 $/yr. The outcomes of the study show that a considerable TAC, AMC, AFC and AEC savings of 26766 $/yr (28.43 %), 2808.2 $/yr (53.09 %), 32300 $/yr (25.4 %) and 774.2023 $/yr (60.69 %) are recorded when compared with using DG alone. The control approach applied in this study has reduced the operational capacity of the DG and prevented about 41157 kg/yr, 419.19 kg/yr and 22.52 kg/yr of CO 2, NOx and SO 2 emissions from being injected into the atmosphere. The simulation outcomes of the research demonstrate that the developed model can significantly reduce cost of electricity in rural communities with the application of HES. Hence, a 45.36 % cost of energy saving has been accomplished through the energy management system introduced in the proposed HES. The study's outcomes can be used as benchmarks to help many countries to enhance access to electricity, raise their living standards and stimulate economic growth. The application of the proposed HES in remote communities can result in greater economic and environmental benefits to a general population of rural dwellers. The findings of the research work are beneficial to designers, independent power providers, investors, researchers and electricity consumers that are looking for a feasible power solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Analyses how technology-inherent characteristics affect valuation processes. • Compares two technologies – Mini-grids (MG) and solar home systems (SHS) in Rwanda. • Identifies three technology-inherent characteristics and their effects. • Finds that customization-heavy, networked, non-complementarity technologies feature slow valuation. Technology valuation processes describe how the value of an innovation is created, embedded and changed for society. They are therefore crucial to understanding a technology's speed of diffusion. Recent literature has highlighted the importance of technology-inherent characteristics for innovation processes, i.e. the creation of new technologies. However, the role of these characteristics in shaping the valuation processes and thereby the diffusion of new technologies remains unclear. To address this gap, we compare valuation processes for two competing technologies - Mini-grids and Solar Home Systems for rural electrification in Rwanda using an inductive case study. We derive three technology-inherent characteristics to explain differences in valuation between the two technologies: (i)the need for customization of technologies; (ii)the networked nature of technologies; and (iii)technological complementarity with mature technologies, which implies a greater valuation effort if the technology is characterized by organizational and institutional non-complementarities. We discuss the implications of our results for decision makers and future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High hopes are pinned to mini-grids for rural electrification, especially in remote and sparsely populated areas. This note presents new evidence from a large evaluation of a US Millennium Challenge Corporation investment into mini-grids in Indonesia. We find that, a few years after commissioning, many mini-grids in the program do not operate properly, corroborating older concerns about the sustainability of mini-grids that have been voiced for several years. Operational costs are typically high and electricity demand low. Our findings are not novel; they rather resonate with a growing literature on the high-cost-low-demand dilemma in mini-grid electrification projects. Therefore, mini-grid programs should take these structural challenges into account, and especially abstain from overly optimistic electricity demand projections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Around 10 % of the ASEAN population remains without access to reliable & affordable electricity. • Microgrids are increasingly proposed as a viable route to electrifying remote locations. • Developing effective, scalable and long term business models remains a challenge. • We develop a novel framework for the study of microgrid business models. • The article provides recommendations for the optimal design of these business models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 2015 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provide a set of aspirational objectives for the world, addressing interlinked themes including poverty, hunger, and climate action. Meeting these goals requires a similarly integrated and interdisciplinary approach. One component of such an approach may be agrivoltaic systems (AVS): dual use solar and agricultural systems wherein crops are grown beneath and between solar panels. Given their intersectoral nature, AVS will have complex impacts on the achievement of the SDGs. This analysis seeks to evaluate how AVS could impact progress towards the SDGs based on literature around the impacts of agriculture, solar, and AVS, and the indicators measuring progress towards the SDGs. It uses a Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) framework and applies it in a unique way to understand the direct and immediate impacts to the SDGs following the installation of an AVS (i.e., strengths and weaknesses), and the potential impacts on the SDGs based on secondary or supplementary actions taken once an AVS is installed (i.e., opportunities and threats). Though the most obvious of AVS' impacts to the SDGs will be on Goals 2 (Zero Hunger) and 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), evaluation of individual indicators shows that AVS can quantifiably impact 14 out of 17 SDGs, largely in a positive manner. However, evaluating impacts on the SDGs indicator by indicator also reveals possible negative, and unexpected, consequences of AVS. Yet, impacts on the SDGs will vary by location-specific factors such as climate, and so this analysis concludes with an application of the SWOT framework in Ethiopia for a farm where an AVS is under consideration. Altogether, this work should provide a means for evaluating the impacts of AVS on SDGs and insights into how to mitigate possible detrimental impacts while capitalizing on benefits. • Agrivoltaics measurably impact 13 out of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. • Impacts of agrivoltaics depend on a reference case: single use agriculture or solar. • Agrivoltaic systems can underpin rural electrification of farms and schools. • Targeted government initiatives can capitalize on the benefits of agrivoltaics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable, reliable, and affordable energy access is a major challenge in many parts of the world. The paper addresses this challenge by proposing a local electricity market (LEM) design for nanogrids deployed in Madagascar. Each nanogrid shares a solar PV and battery system, and it meets demand locally before trading surplus energy with other nanogrids on a microgrid bus, facilitated through the creation of a LEM. Two distinct market approaches are investigated and compared: central clearing and bilateral trading. Bilateral trading generates trading prices through direct interaction between consumers and producers, whereas central clearing sets a single trading price based on the cost-ordered supply curve. Our study shows that central clearing generates more consumer-friendly prices and facilitates the trading of all technically feasible energy, while bilateral trading may results in unmatched trading capacity. We find an average price for central trading of 0.49 €/kWh compared to 1.24 €/kWh with a bilateral trading mechanism. To promote the low market prices, a bottom-up retail tariff structure is proposed. The aim of this simplified tariff is to promote initial electrification by minimizing entry prices for end-users' first electricity access to 0.89 €/kWh compared to the current average of 2.11 €/kWh. The discussed results were evaluated in consultation with the local company in Madagascar to ensure practical suitability and to achieve maximum significance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Power generation faces the challenge of reducing its greenhouse gas emissions without shifting the burden to other environmental impacts. Energy and exergy-based environmental indicators have proven to some extent to be effective environmental proxies for the current energy mix but the robustness of this approach has barely been discussed in the frame of energy transition scenarios. Hence, the aim of this study is to analyse their relevance in the context of decarbonisation of industrial heat through electrification. To this end, we investigate the potential relationships between two different energy indicators and environmental indicators using life cycle assessment (Ecoinvent database, 16 environmental indicators, 2 energy indicators) for 28 pairs of energy sources shifting for the production of 1 kWh of electricity. For the reference French case, no similar trends across all sources of energy, for given environmental and energy indicators are found neither between all environmental and energy indicators. The extension to other cases is discussed, leading to the same conclusion. These results highlight the need for a multi-criteria assessment to evaluate the impacts of industrial heat in a context of intensive process electrification, which will be country dependent because of the various strategies in achieving net-zero electricity mix. [Display omitted] • Investigation of correlations between energy, exergy and environmental indicators. • Limited correlations found between energy and environmental indicators for decarbonated energy. • Electrification contributes to decarbonisation, but comes with environmental trade-offs. • Need for a multi-criteria approach for a complete analysis of the impact of electrification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study assessed the prosumer benefits of a residential photovoltaic system based on a net-benefit analysis. Net present value ranged from 187 to 2811 $/kW in the low-market scenario and 1226–5642 $/kW in the high-market scenario. Net benefits were verified in net metering contexts, while contexts without net metering had break-even points of 31% and 48% self-consumption for the two scenarios, respectively. Policy recommendations are proposed to encourage investment in renewable energy plants in the Palestinian territory to increase energy security while contributing to the attainment of Sustainable Development Goal 7. • Energy security and rural electrification are targets to reach in Palestine. • Residential PV can support sustainable energy development in Palestine. • The share of self-consumption is a strategic variable in developing markets. • Net Metering is a supportive policy instrument for the PV development. • Regulatory framework supports prosumer deployment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]