Vinita Rodrigues, Vivek Mustafa Gilani, Saranya Acharya, Maya Seshagiri
Extended abstract 3-240-26 Urban Poor Women in India, living in heat-trapping buildings in conditions of cooling-energy poverty (i.e. inadequate energy access for operating active cooling appliances and no access to passive cooling solutions) are inequitably impacted by climate-crisis induced extreme heat which causes health issues stemming from homes being too hot to sleep in before midnight and social reproduction roles which require them to wake up hours before other family members. Paradoxically, women are under-represented in the âgreen economyâ response to extreme heat (eg. cool roof programmes). The paper presents insights from, and the way forward from the field-test phase of a Women's Heat Action Cooperative (WEHAC) programme underway in an informal settlement in Chennai, India to enhance access to passive cooling solutions co-created with the community. The WEHAC offers cooling products and services to residents who pay an affordable estimated monthly-installments (EMI) to the WEHAC to maintain a revolving fund that serves as future investment capital. The paper presents learnings related to structure of financial/social incentives for initial mobilization of womenâs entrepreneurial interests, outcomes of testing solutions to underwrite risk of residents not paying EMIs, and elucidates the process of establishing an ecosystem of trades, material supply chains to foster a locally-owned decentralized response to cooling energy poverty. It also presents results of an ongoing effort to establish a One-Stop-Shop ( technical and finance assistance facility) for WEHACs where finance and in-kind assistance is derived from a multitude of sources (e.g. microfinance institutions, impact investment) and through repurposing municipal development schemes. The paper presents results from the applied policy research work of policy âhackingâ (i.e reinterpreting, repurposing) of existing policies (eg. heat action plans, womenâs empowerment programs) and unlocking financing from under-subscribed schemes. Download presentation.
Purpose: Nigeria sits on massive renewable potential, yet clean power barely trickles into the national grid. This paper digs into why the transition keeps stalling despite the Electricity Act 2023 handing states the keys to their own power markets. Rather than celebrating the new legal framework, it examines the commercial and technical friction that is blocking developers from connecting to the grid. Methodology: This study used a qualitative policy review to examine Nigeria's renewable energy regulatory framework by reviewing key legal documents alongside relevant academic and industry publications. The selected materials, published mainly between 2023 and 2026, were examined through a structured narrative analysis to identify policy gaps affecting renewable energy policy readiness. Findings: The findings show that Nigeria has made important legal and policy progress, but implementation remains weak. The electricity market is fragmented, and renewable-energy developers continue to face challenges such as unclear federal-state coordination, limited grid capacity and flexibility, non-cost-reflective tariffs, and insufficient use of smart-grid, storage, and circular-economy technologies. The preliminary assessment produced a readiness score of 2.33 out of 6, suggesting that while policy ambition is evident, the conditions needed for effective market delivery are still inadequate. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The six-pillar framework gives researchers a concrete diagnostic for measuring transition readiness beyond checkbox compliance. For industry players, it highlights exactly where projects get stuck between permitting chaos and unbankable contracts. For policymakers, the paper makes the case for binding federal-state coordination treaties, mandatory storage and digital standards, aggressive mini-grid scaling, and placing consumer affordability at the absolute center of market design rather than treating it as an afterthought.
Omojola Awogbemi, S. A. Aasa, Oluwaseun O. Martins, Anthony O. Onokwai
Abstract The worrisome economic, environmental, and energy security implications of the continuous use of fossil-based sources as road transport fuel have made Nigeria consider sustainable alternatives. With the countryâs abundant natural gas reserves and growing climate commitments, compressed natural gas (CNG) presents a viable pathway for decarbonizing road transport, curbing urban air pollution, and ensuring energy security. The current study examines the adoption, deployment, and integration of CNG into Nigeriaâs road transport ecosystem. The study reviews the CNG resources and infrastructure, impact and achievements, and highlights the challenges of CNG deployment as a road transport fuel, case studies from other jurisdictions, suggestions for improvement, and future research perspectives. Though reasonable grounds have been covered, overcoming the technological and infrastructure gaps, economic and financial inadequacy, health, environmental, and safety issues, ensuring social and stakeholder acceptance, and instituting appropriate policy and regulatory frameworks are fundamental to ensure scalability and energy security. Nigeria can leverage case studies from other jurisdictions to leapfrog and accelerate nationwide deployment, mitigate risks, and guarantee a low-carbon road transport future for Nigeria. More sensitization campaigns, investment and fiscal incentive models, price reduction strategies, and rapid upgrade of CNG infrastructure across the country to ensure wide acceptability, affordability, and nationwide deployment. Future research should integrate lifecycle and techno-economic analysis, smart metering, blockchain tracking, spatial modeling, macroeconomic impact, and process optimization to guide stakeholders in designing a resilient, inclusive, and scalable CNG transport framework for Nigeria.
As of 2024, 730 million people worldwide lacked electricity access, roughly eight in ten of them in sub-Saharan Africa. Closing this gap requires engineering approaches suited to the technical, financial, and institutional constraints of low-resource settings, not conventional grid extension alone. This paper reviews four engineering pathways expanding renewable energy access in developing countries â decentralized mini-grids, IoT-enabled pay-as-you-go (PAYG) solar financing, frugal engineering, and AI-assisted smart-grid digitalization â using case evidence from Kenya, India, and East Africa's PAYG sector.
Climate change presents intensifying environmental, economic, and social challenges, particularly for developing countries such as India, where climate vulnerability intersects with pressing developmental priorities including energy access, poverty alleviation, and sustainable urbanization. While global frameworks such as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement establish mitigation and adaptation targets, their effectiveness depends significantly on decentralized and community-driven implementation. In this context, community-based climate solutions (CBCS) have emerged as an important bridge between national policy commitments and localized climate action. This paper examines Indiaâs renewable energy transition and electric mobility initiatives as examples of decentralized climate governance. Renewable energy programmes implemented by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, especially rooftop solar expansion and the PM-KUSUM scheme, promote distributed power generation, solar irrigation, and farmer-centric energy systems. These interventions contribute not only to carbon emission reduction but also to rural income diversification, agricultural resilience, and enhanced energy security. By encouraging local ownership and participatory models, such programmes integrate climate mitigation with inclusive development objectives. Complementing these initiatives, electric mobility policies advanced by the Ministry of Heavy Industries, including the PM E-Drive scheme, support the adoption of electric two-wheelers, three-wheelers, and public transport systems. These measures reduce urban air pollution, lower fossil fuel dependence, and create green employment opportunities within emerging clean energy value chains. The diffusion of electric mobility further demonstrates how local entrepreneurship, cooperatives, and community participation can accelerate low-carbon transitions. By situating these initiatives within a community-based governance framework, the study argues that decentralized renewable energy systems and electric mobility expansion reinforce climate mitigation and adaptation while promoting socio-economic empowerment. The analysis concludes that Indiaâs evolving climate strategy reflects a gradual shift toward participatory and multi-level governance models. Strengthening institutional coordination, expanding climate finance access, and enhancing local capacity-building remain essential to sustaining and scaling community-based climate action in alignment with global climate commitments.
Purpose This study aims to examine disruptive decentralized energy models, such as pay-as-you-go (PAYG) solar home systems, mini-grids and community-owned renewables, from a strategic management viewpoint. It assesses their potential to simultaneously alleviate energy poverty and accelerate the transition to renewable energy in emerging economies in the Global South. Design/methodology/approach The study synthesizes evidence from 120 publications (2015â2025) via a systematic literature review guided by preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) 2020 protocols, drawing from Scopus, web of science and gray literature. This is complemented by purposive case study analysis of the Kenya PAYG ecosystem, Nigeriaâs mini-grid scale-up and community models in Nepal and Bangladesh, leading to the synthesis of an integrative and diagnostic managerial framework. Findings The analysis reveals that the transformative potential of decentralized models hinges on managing disruption as an integrated phenomenon across three interdependent pillars: technological, financial and socio-institutional. Success requires moving beyond isolated innovations to develop hybrid governance structures that proactively integrate these assets into national energy planning. Key to this is adaptive regulation, strategic utility adaptation and inclusive design that addresses equity gaps. Practical implications Actionable recommendations are provided for core stakeholders: policymakers should design technology-neutral rules and interconnection standards; utilities should evolve toward platform orchestration; investors should build robust local partnerships and risk-sharing models; and donors should prioritize capacity building and performance-based support. These strategies collectively enable emerging economies to leapfrog centralized limitations and transition to resilient, inclusive energy systems. Originality/value The paperâs primary contribution is the synthesis of the hybrid energy ecosystem management framework, a layered diagnostic tool that consolidates existing concepts of assets, finance, regulation and governance into a coherent strategic architecture. It equips sector leaders with a practical lens to identify systemic bottlenecks, manage tradeoffs and scale disruption equitably, moving beyond technical or siloed case analyzes.
Abstract Despite Africa's vast and diverse renewable energy resource base, large-scale deployment remains limited by persistent financing gaps, elevated investment risks, and weak project bankability. This paper evaluates how the strategic integration of innovative financing mechanisms with enabling digital and energy technologies can accelerate renewable energy deployment while strengthening resilience, affordability, and long-term sustainability across Africa's emerging economies. The study employs a mixed methods approach combining regulatory and policy analysis, comparative case studies from selected African countries, and techno-economic assessments of grid-connected, mini-grid, and off-grid renewable energy projects. It examines blended finance instruments including public private partnerships, development finance institution guarantees, carbon finance, and climate funds alongside technology-enabled solutions such as pay-as-you-go business models, blockchain supported energy transactions, and data-driven performance and risk monitoring systems. The analysis demonstrates that renewable energy projects that align innovative financing structures with digital technologies exhibit significantly improved financial performance and reduced risk exposure. Blended finance mechanisms are shown to mobilize private capital at leverage ratios exceeding 1:5 in conducive policy environments, while digitally enabled financing platforms enhance revenue predictability, operational transparency, and asset performance by approximately 30â40%. These synergies lower the cost of capital, improve investor confidence, and enable scalable deployment, particularly for decentralized energy systems serving underserved and remote communities. The findings highlight that Africa's renewable energy scale-up challenge extends beyond resource availability to include systemic financial and technological barriers. Effective and sustainable deployment requires an integrated ecosystem where innovative financing, digital technologies, and supportive regulatory frameworks are deliberately aligned. This paper proposes a holistic framework that explicitly links financing innovation with digital energy technologies to derisk renewable investments in Africa. The framework offers a practical and replicable pathway for policymakers, investors, and developers to accelerate renewable energy deployment while supporting inclusive economic growth and enhancing energy security across the continent.
Punjab is an agrarian society and is one of the worldâs leading producers of crops such as rice and wheat. The crops rely heavily on fertilizers and different pesticides, which harm the environment. After every harvesting season, farmers burn crop residue too quickly to clear the fields for the next sowing, as short time gaps undermine the productivity of the crops. The practice of stubble burning has raised serious environmental, health and legal concerns. Stubble burning has degraded air quality by discharging harmful gases such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and sulphur oxides, which lead to respiratory illnesses, particularly among children, the elderly, and pregnant women. Thus, it has endangered public health so the study has emphasized the serious issue of stubble burning in Punjab from a legal and regulatory perspective. The chapter has also analysed the challenges faced by farmers that forced them to burn stubble. The study has employed qualitative methodology and relies on secondary sources such as statutory provisions, government reports, newspapers, articles, and studies related to stubble burning. The role of the government, courts, and regulatory institutions in addressing the serious issue of stubble burning through environmental laws, legal restrictions, penalties, and awareness campaigns to discourage stubble burning have also been thoroughly discussed. The research work has highlighted sustainable and legally viable residue management practices, effective implementation of environmental laws, farmer-centric polices, and coordinated government action to achieve the right to a clean and healthy environment.
Renewable energy in Africa has gained increasing attention as a strategic pathway to achieving sustainable development, energy security, and economic transformation. A structured search of peer-reviewed studies was conducted using Web of Science, Scopus, and ProQuest. Fifteen empirical studies met the strict PRISMA inclusion criteria for detailed systematic synthesis, while additional high-quality review articles, book chapters, and policy reports were incorporated to strengthen contextual interpretation of renewable energy deployment trends across Africa. This systematic review synthesizes empirical evidence on renewable energy deployment across the continent, focusing on trends, challenges, and opportunities. Africa is endowed with abundant solar, wind, hydropower, geothermal, and biomass resources, yet actual utilization remains uneven and limited, with solar and wind experiencing the most rapid growth in recent years. Hydropower continues to dominate installed capacity, while geothermal and emerging technologies remain largely underdeveloped. Persistent barriers to deployment include inadequate grid infrastructure, limited access to finance, policy and regulatory inconsistencies, institutional capacity constraints, and political instability, particularly in rural and decentralized systems. Despite these challenges, opportunities exist in the form of declining technology costs, growing private and international investment, expansion of decentralized energy systems, and regional cooperation initiatives. Strengthening policy implementation, improving governance coordination, investing in infrastructure and human capital, and promoting innovative financing mechanisms are critical to accelerating Africaâs renewable energy transition.
P. A. Adeoye, Joseph Babatola Ayodele, Fomonyuy Shinyuy, Clement Dossou-Yovo ¡ 6 authors
Nigeria faces one of Sub-Saharan Africaâs most severe energy poverty crises, with over 85 million people lacking electricity access, a challenge that disproportionately affects more than 2.5 million Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in conflict-affected North-East Nigeria. Despite national electrification efforts, humanitarian settlements remain largely excluded from reliable power infrastructure. This study evaluates the technical feasibility, spatial energy gaps, and policy barriers associated with deploying decentralized solar and hybrid solarâwind systems in IDP settlements across six North-Eastern states. A mixed-method geospatial framework was applied, integrating Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) nighttime light data, Geo-Referenced Infrastructure and Demographic Data for Development (GRID<sup>3</sup>) infrastructure datasets, and Distributed Renewable Energy (DRE) demand data using Python and Quantum Geographic Information System (QGIS). Nighttime light intensity was classified into no-access (â¤100 nW/cm²/sr), limited-access (101â1000 nW/cm²/sr), and full-access (>1000 nW/cm²/sr) categories. Results identified 670 IDP camps across 112 Local Government Areas (LGAs), with high concentrations in Bauchi (264 camps), Borno (194), and Gombe (140), predominantly located within limited-access zones. Solar resource assessment shows strong regional potential (4.2â4.6 kWh/m²/day Global Horizontal Irradiation (GHI)), while average wind speeds of 2â4 m/s support small-scale hybrid applications. A representative camp load analysis (3.72 kWh/day) demonstrates that a 0.99 kWp solar array combined with a 3.2 kWh battery and a 300 W vertical-axis wind turbine can reliably meet basic household energy needs, reducing approximately 25.88 kgCO<sub>2</sub>e per household annually. Key barriers include high upfront costs, limited financing mechanisms, weak humanitarian energy policy integration, and security-related operational risks. The study provides empirical evidence for integrating decentralized renewable energy into national electrification strategies through risk-informed planning and tailored financing models to enhance resilience, sustainability, and dignity in displacement settings.
Moses Arthur Baidoo, Wang ZhiCheng, Liu Qi, Zhou ShuMin ¡ 6 authors
Access to reliable electricity remains a pressing challenge in Sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in rural areas where over 600 million people live without power. This paper explores the potential of decentralized solar energy systems; such as solar home systems, mini-grids, and solar-powered appliances in addressing energy access challenges across rural Sub-Saharan Africa. While these systems offer clean, reliable, and scalable alternatives to conventional grid expansion, their adoption is constrained by regulatory uncertainty, limited financing options, and local capacity gaps. Drawing on case studies from five countries, the paper examines how recent innovations -including mobile-based Pay-as-you-go (PAYG) financing, hybrid renewable systems, and improved energy storage technologies are reshaping energy access models. It also outlines policy recommendations aimed at strengthening regulatory coherence, promoting regional cooperation, and enhancing sustainability. Ultimately, the study highlights how decentralized solar solutions can contribute to long-term environmental, financial, and social resilience, with direct implications for poverty alleviation and inclusive rural development in the region.
ABSTRACT: Universal access to electricity remains one of the major structural challenges to development in sub-Saharan Africa, and particularly in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where territorial disparities and low rural electrification rates significantly hinder inclusive economic growth. Faced with the technical and financial limitations of traditional centralized grids, mini-grids and other decentralized electrification solutions are emerging as alternatives adapted to the country's geographical, demographic, and socio-economic realities. However, the development of these solutions fundamentally depends on the ability to mobilize appropriate, sustainable, and structured financing mechanisms. High initial infrastructure costs, combined with the limited repayment capacity of rural populations and a still-developing institutional environment, constitute major constraints to investment. The analysis highlights the need for a hybrid financial architecture, combining private equity, concessional debt, subsidies, and innovative financial instruments such as mezzanine debt, crowdfunding, and pay-as-you-go mechanisms. The economic sustainability of projects depends on a delicate balance between the financial viability of operators and affordable pricing for users. Business models must incorporate diversification of energy services, the integration of productive uses, and rigorous risk management (demand, exchange rate fluctuations, regulatory instability). The leverage generated by combining different funding sources strengthens investment capacity and improves project resilience. Institutionally, the regulatory framework plays a crucial role. The clarity of tariff rules, legal stability, transparency in subsidy allocation, and the effectiveness of rural electrification agencies are key factors in the sector's attractiveness to private investors. Tax and customs incentives, as well as risk guarantee mechanisms, are essential levers for reducing the cost of capital and stimulating local financial sector involvement. The study of the Congolese context reveals considerable energy potential, particularly in hydroelectric and solar power, but also persistent challenges related to access to credit, administrative complexity, and the structuring of public-private partnerships. Improving the financing of mini-grids in the DRC therefore requires an integrated approach combining regulatory reforms, institutional capacity building, and financial innovation. Ultimately, financing mini-grids is not merely a technical or budgetary issue, but a strategic challenge for energy governance and structural transformation. Establishing a coherent financial and regulatory ecosystem is essential to ensure the sustainability of projects, accelerate rural electrification, and contribute significantly to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 7 on access to reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy.
This study examines access to clean and sustainable energy in the city of Mbandaka, Democratic Republic of Congo. Using a mixed-method approach combining surveys of 150 households and semi-structured interviews, it highlights a strong dependence on traditional energy sources such as wood and charcoal, despite a growing adoption of solar energy. Results show that 30% of households already use solar energy for lighting, while 72% still rely on charcoal for cooking. The main barriers to energy transition are the high initial cost of equipment and the lack of information about clean technologies. The study concludes that the energy transition in Mbandaka is technically feasible and socially desirable but requires institutional support, inclusive financing mechanisms, and participatory governance. It advocates for a territorial approach based on decentralization and environmental education.
Energy poverty remains a critical barrier to socioeconomic development in rural Africa, where millions lack access to reliable electricity. This study explores the state of rural electrification, the consequences of dependence on traditional energy sources, and the potential of solar energy as a viable solution. Using a qualitative secondary research methodology, the study synthesizes data from scholarly articles, institutional reports, and case studies across various African nations, including Kenya, Rwanda, and Tanzania. Findings reveal that decentralized solar solutions, such as mini-grids and standalone solar home systems, offer scalable and cost effective alternatives to grid expansion. However, challenges such. Ydf as high upfront costs, weak regulatory frameworks, and limited financing mechanisms hinder widespread adoption. Innovative financing models, including pay-as-you-go (PAYG) schemes and microcredit financing, have demonstrated success in increasing energy affordability, while public-private partnerships (PPPs) have facilitated large-scale solar electrification projects. The study concludes that achieving universal energy access in rural Africa requires strengthened institutional support, policy harmonization, and increased investment in decentralized renewable energy solutions. Policy recommendations include government-led subsidy programs, tax incentives for solar enterprises, and enhanced regulatory frameworks to encourage private sector participation. This research contributes to the ongoing discourse on sustainable energy transitions by providing policy insights and strategic recommendations for accelerating rural electrification efforts in Africa.
Imoleayo Abraham Awodele, Molusiwa S. Ramabodu, Nathaniel Ayinde Olatunde, Iruka C. Anugwo
Africa is richly endowed with renewable energy resources, including solar, wind, and hydropower, yet the continent faces a significant energy access deficit, with over 600 million people lacking reliable electricity. Traditional fossil fuel-based energy models have proven inadequate for meeting the region's growing energy demands while posing environmental and economic challenges. This study explores the need to transcend these conventional energy paradigms by accelerating the adoption of sustainable, inclusive renewable energy systems tailored to Africa's unique context. Adopting a qualitative research approach, the study employed document analysis of policy reports, scholarly literature, and energy market trends to examine the continent's renewable energy transition. Thematic analysis identified key barriers such as limited access to financing, fragmented regulatory frameworks, and insufficient technical capacity. However, the findings also highlight transformative opportunities, including decentralized energy systems for off-grid rural communities, digital innovations, and international climate finance. The study recommends empowering community-driven energy models, adopting innovative financing mechanisms such as microcredit and crowdfunding and fostering cross-sectoral collaboration. These measures will not only expand energy access but also position Africa as a leader in global climate action, environmental sustainability, and inclusive energy innovation. Keywords: Renewable Energy Transition; Decentralized Energy Systems; Sustainable Development; Africa Energy Policy.
Despite Pakistan's long-enduring chronic energy crisis, a recent surge in solar generation supplied nearly 25 % of the national electricity grid in the first quarter of 2025, broadening access and easing cost pressures. Conversely, IMF conditionality under IMF financing programs, such as tariff rebasing and a 10 % sales tax on solar imports, risk undermining these distributive gains. This study examines the interaction between solar adoption, IMF credit, and household electricity prices in shaping energy justice, using annual data from 2007 to 2024. We capture direct, mediated, and dynamic effects using time-series analysis and causal mediation models, respectively. Results show that a 1 % increase in solar generation reduces injustice by 0.142 points ( p < 0.01), with benefits most substantial in rural areas. Mediation analysis demonstrates that IMF credit alleviates injustice only when channeled through solar adoption ( β = 0.251 â SE; Sobel z = â2.47), while tariff hikes directly worsen inequality ( β = â0.399, p < 0.05) but partially induce adoption. VAR evidence reveals that price shocks immediately intensify injustice, whereas solar shocks reduce disparities gradually. Results conclude that solar energy holds great promise, but cannot single-handedly drive a just transition. Achieving equitable outcomes requires addressing policy barriers by removing regressive fiscal measures, safeguarding net-metering, dedicating IMF resources to decentralized solar projects in marginalized communities, and broadening targeted subsidies for low-income populations. A failure to implement such measures could render Pakistan's solar expansion exclusive, thereby widening inequality. ⢠Solar deployment substantially reduces distributive energy injustice in Pakistan, with a 1 % rise in solar output lowering injustice by 0.142 points. ⢠IMF credit enhances distributive energy justice only when directed toward solar investment. ⢠Household electricity prices drive energy injustice: tariff hikes intensify inequality but spur limited, inequitable solar adoption. ⢠Price shocks incur immediate and enduring distributive costs, whereas the equity benefits of solar adoption accrue gradually. ⢠Achieving an equitable transition requires embedding distributive justice in fiscal and financing frameworks.
Rapid urbanization in Tanzania has increased municipal solid waste generation and placed growing pressure on urban waste-management systems that remain focused mainly on collection, transport, and disposal. Given the high organic fraction of municipal waste generation. This paper examines Resource recovery from municipal waste through cost-effective biogas technologies in Tanzania, focusing on policy and institutional frameworks that support or constrain decentralized municipal organic waste-to-biogas systems that use appropriate standard procedures. The findings show that Tanzania has a broad policy framework for environmental protection, renewable energy, private-sector participation, and resource recovery, but this foundation has not been well translated into practice. Key constraints include fragmented mandates, limited biogas-specific standards, weak organic waste segregation, inadequate financing mechanisms, and insufficient formal inclusion of communities and informal waste actors. The paper argues that improving decentralized biogas implementation requires converting existing policy commitments into enforceable, financed, and locally coordinated municipal resource-recovery systems
Kingsley Imandojemu, Aliyu Akorede Rufai, Felix Orole, Romanus Osabohien
ABSTRACT Balancing energy security, energy equity, and environmental sustainability has become increasingly challenging as economies pursue lowâcarbon growth amid climate risk and persistent disparities in access to modern energy. Although entrepreneurship is widely recognized as a driver of innovation, its role in addressing the energy trilemma remains contested. This study examines whether, and under what conditions, entrepreneurship contributes to resolving the energy trilemma, using panel data for 64 countries from 2011 to 2022. Drawing on the World Energy Council's trilemma indices, World Bank entrepreneurship and macroeconomic indicators, and OECDâDAC climate finance data, the analysis employs randomâeffects models to capture both withinâ and betweenâcountry variation. The results show that entrepreneurial activity is robustly associated with improved energy security and energy equity, alongside more modest gains in environmental sustainability. Innovation capacity strengthens these relationships, while foreign direct investment and climate finance exhibit uneven effects, tending to support systemâlevel and environmental outcomes more than inclusive access. Regulatory quality emerges as a critical enabling condition that significantly amplifies the positive impact of entrepreneurship across the energy trilemma. Overall, the findings provide crossâcountry evidence that entrepreneurship functions as both an innovation conduit and a decentralizing force in energy transitions, underscoring the importance of predictable regulation and betterâtargeted climate finance for accessâoriented clean energy solutions.
Persistent electricity shortages and routine load shedding have long hindered social and economic development in Pakistan, with Punjab its most populous and industrialized province bearing a disproportionate share of the burden. In recent years, however, solar power has emerged as a central pillar of provincial strategies to enhance energy security and reduce dependence on conventional, fossil-fuel-based generation. This paper examines how solar energy is contributing to Punjabâs gradual shift from chronic load shedding toward greater energy independence. Adopting a qualitative, multiple-case design, the study draws on national and provincial policy documents, secondary reports, and peer-reviewed literature. It focuses on four key sectors residential, agricultural, educational, and industrial where solar initiatives have been promoted through programs such as free solar panel schemes for low-income households, school solarization, solar irrigation systems, and industrial rooftop installations. A comparative sectoral analysis evaluates these initiatives in terms of affordability, reliability, sustainability, and scalability. The findings show that solar energy has significantly improved supply reliability for many households and institutions, reduced operating costs for some farmers and industries, and opened new avenues for decentralized generation. At the same time, coverage remains uneven, key programs are still small relative to overall need, and implementation is constrained by financing barriers, bureaucratic delays, and limited technical capacity. The paper argues that Punjabâs trajectory illustrates both the transformative potential and the persistent limitations of solar-led energy transitions in developing-country contexts. It concludes that scaling up equitable, decentralized solar adoption supported by robust provincial policies, innovative financing, and institutional reforms will be essential if solar power is to move from a complementary role to a structural driver of energy independence.
Darlington Chizema, Ramos E. Mabugu, Christelle Meniago
This study examines the effect of renewable energy consumption on energy poverty across 43 Sub-Saharan African countries from 2002 to 2021. Using a dynamic panel data approach and a two-step System GMM estimator, it addresses endogeneity concerns in energy poverty analysis. Results show energy poverty is persistent, reflecting deep institutional and infrastructural challenges. While renewable energy consumption is positively associated with energy poverty, the modest impact suggests current investments are concentrated in urban or grid-connected areas, with limited benefits for rural populations. This highlights the need for inclusive, decentralized energy strategies. Human capital emerges as a key factor in alleviating energy poverty, emphasizing the importance of integrating energy access with education and health initiatives. Conversely, GDP per capita, institutional quality, and population density show no significant effects, challenging assumptions that economic growth alone can resolve energy deprivation. The lack of a declining trend in energy poverty underscores the urgency for targeted, long-term interventions. The study advocates pro-poor energy policies, innovative financing, and multi-sectoral approaches linking energy access to broader development goals to advance Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG 7). Future research should explore subnational disparities and the varied impacts of renewable technologies to inform context-specific solutions.
I. K. Duah, C. K. K. Sekyere, F. Kemausuor, K. A. Amaning
This review offers a dual-staged evaluation of micro-hydropower (MHP), integrating a technical synthesis of over 150 of the most relevant papers with a bibliometric analysis of 918 peer-reviewed studies from 2014 to 2024. It provides a map of publishing trends, keyword development, and leading universities that describe global research patterns and identify research gaps in the field. Key advancements in turbine design, including impulse, reaction, low-head, and pump-as-turbine configurations, as well as the use of GIS-driven site-selection methodologies, have been synthesised. Thirteen real-world MHP initiatives are analyzed to contextualize the outcomes by examining the influence of design choices, financing strategies, and community engagement on results. Africa possesses around 25 GW of hydro energy potential, although it exhibits notably poor research output according to the findings. Context-sensitive engineering, robust governance, and adaptable implementation strategies also facilitate long-term success, extending beyond the mere adoption of technology. Overall, this study offers pragmatic recommendations for researchers, practitioners, and legislators aiming to expand MHP for sustainable rural electricity by integrating macro-level bibliometrics with micro-level design insights.