Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Cristina Dominguez, Kristina Orehounig, Jan Carmeliet
Summary: This study analyzes the transition towards clean energy in rural areas, from households without electricity access to national electricity, examining off-grid renewable technology access and post-electrification years. Findings reveal that factors like male household heads, peer pressure, and good quality housing materials increase the likelihood of grid-electricity adoption, while higher electricity prices and service unreliability decrease these probabilities.
ENERGY FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
(2021)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Barbara Liz E. Miravet-Sanchez, Alberto A. Garcia-Rivero, Ricardo Yuli-Posadas, Luis Alberto Rnostroza-Ruiz, Victor Fernandez-Guzman, Yuli Anabel Chavez-Juanito, Jose Miguel Rutti-Marin, Jose Alfonso Apesteguia-Infantes
Summary: This article presents the main characteristics and current development status of photovoltaic (PV) energy in Latin American and Caribbean countries (LAC). It discusses the impact of PV energy on the electrification of isolated or difficult-to-access communities, such as homes, health institutions, and schools. The advantages of using PV energy instead of traditional fuels like firewood and kerosene are highlighted, including improved inhabitants' health and reduced CO2 emissions. The countries of Nicaragua, Peru, Brazil, Argentina, and Chile are notable for their growing PV energy development in the region. A case study on the electrification process by PV systems demonstrates positive changes in improving the quality of life and the physical and mental health of the inhabitants. Furthermore, significant reductions in CO2 emissions are achieved by electrifying houses and reducing firewood and kerosene consumption. However, it is crucial for LAC countries to adopt laws and regulations that regulate the use of PV energy, particularly focusing on recycling systems at the end of their life cycle.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Alper Aslan, Buket Altinoz, Baki Ozsolak
Summary: The study finds that the relationship among international tourism, energy consumption, carbon dioxide emissions, and economic growth in Mediterranean countries is complex, with tourism supporting economic growth at low levels but potentially deviating after middle levels of growth. Energy consumption is found to support economic growth at low and medium growth levels.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Abir Khribich, Rami H. Kacem, Ahlem Dakhlaoui
Summary: This paper aims to investigate the impact of social development on renewable energy consumption. The analysis of panel data from 27 high-income countries shows that social development significantly contributes to renewable energy consumption in the long run, and simulation results demonstrate that increasing social development can also have a significant impact on short-term renewable energy consumption.
Review
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
P. Pandiyan, R. Sitharthan, S. Saravanan, Natarajan Prabaharan, M. Ramji Tiwari, T. Chinnadurai, T. Yuvaraj, K. R. Devabalaji
Summary: This paper provides a comprehensive review on the enhanced hybrid electrification in rural areas using renewable energy sources such as hydro, wind, biogas, and biomass. It highlights the sustainable and reliable operation of hybrid renewable power generation systems, as well as factors influencing the selection of a particular hybrid energy system and the energy management strategy. The outcomes of this study can be utilized by researchers and stakeholders for rural electricity pricing and policymaking.
SUSTAINABLE ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES AND ASSESSMENTS
(2022)
Review
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
S. C. Bhattacharyya, D. Palit
Summary: This paper critically examines the literature on the grid-offgrid debate and finds that model results are seriously influenced by various factors including assumptions, data limitations, technology choices, and model flexibility. Existing models have weaknesses such as exclusion of grid system generation costs, lack of village level information, inherent bias towards scale and technology type, and absence of social equity considerations.
RENEWABLE & SUSTAINABLE ENERGY REVIEWS
(2021)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Lorafe Lozano, Evelyn B. Taboada
Summary: Electrification plays a crucial role in the advancement of rural communities, but assessing its impact on sustainable development at the grassroots level remains a challenge. A framework with eight indicators in economic, technical, social, and environmental dimensions is presented to evaluate how electrification affects sustainable development. Results from two islands in the Philippines show that islands with limited hours for electricity access rarely experience positive impacts to socioeconomic development, while islands with longer access see improvements in almost all aspects. This framework can be a useful tool for decision- and policy-makers to assess electrification in rural off-grid communities and assist in achieving sustainable development.
Article
Economics
Frederico Perillo, Patricia Pereira da Silva, Pedro A. Cerqueira
Summary: This paper decomposes the electricity intensity in the European Union from 1995 to 2019 into structure, efficiency, and electrification components, showing that the impact of efficiency component is greater than expected and requires continued technological innovation. The electrification component contributes to the increase in electricity intensity, while the structural element has a minor influence. Country-specific efficiency policies may be considered given the distinct values and particularities of each EU-28 country.
Review
Energy & Fuels
Edson Leroy Meyer, Ochuko Kelvin Overen
Summary: The study examines the challenges of rural off-grid initiatives in South Africa and proposes measures to achieve sustainable rural electrification. These include a new energy policy mandating renewable energy sources, incentives for municipalities, provision of technical expertise, and consumer education on demand management benefits.
Article
Environmental Studies
Hilman S. Fathoni, Abidah B. Setyowati, James Prest
Summary: This article examines how the micro-politics of planning and implementing community-based renewable projects influence energy justice outcomes on the ground, using case studies from Sumba Island in Eastern Indonesia. The study highlights the importance of addressing socio-historical dimensions and shifting away from centralized mentalities to overcome exclusions and inequalities in rural energy provision.
ENERGY RESEARCH & SOCIAL SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Delphin Kamanda Espoir, Regret Sunge, Andrew Adewale Alola
Summary: By studying the time-dependent effect of crucial factors such as renewable and conventional energy utilization, relevant energy policies can be provided for stakeholders in the energy sector. This study used a time-varying causality technique to determine the causal relationship between CO2 emission and its potential drivers such as energy source types and GDP. The results indicate causal relationships among these variables over different time sequences.
ENVIRONMENT DEVELOPMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Francisco Javier Vela-Cobos, Ronald Cavero, Carlos A. Platero, Jose A. Sanchez-Fernandez
Summary: In order to achieve United Nations SDG 7 by 2030, affordable, reliable, and clean universal access to energy, it is crucial to consider both technological and social issues jointly. The key to success lies in involving all stakeholders in the solution and ensuring that end users feel ownership of the solution, leading to their willingness to use and maintain the devices for electricity access. This approach has been demonstrated to provide energy access to rural communities effectively, emphasizing the importance of considering not only technological and economic aspects, but also the social aspects of the problem.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Debajit Palit, Atul Kumar
Summary: Despite significant progress, the electrification sector in India still faces multiple challenges. This study examined the drivers and barriers to rural electrification, highlighting the importance of enabling policies and government support. The research identified political, economic, and financial factors as the main drivers for centralized grid expansion, and convergence with livelihood programs and electricity for irrigation as strong drivers for RE-based mini-grids. High electricity costs and customers' inability to pay were perceived as barriers for both central grid and mini-grids.
RENEWABLE & SUSTAINABLE ENERGY REVIEWS
(2022)
Article
Economics
Muhammad Mohsin, Imran Hanif, Farhad Taghizadeh-Hesary, Qaiser Abbas, Wasim Iqbal
Summary: This study used data from forty-eight countries in five different regions to analyze the impact of energy reforms on energy efficiency. Results show varying performances among countries, with Sub-Saharan Africa seeing improvement after implementing energy reform. The study confirms that energy reform is a good means to achieve high energy efficiency and reduce per-unit energy cost.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Florian Egli, Churchill Agutu, Bjarne Steffen, Tobias S. Schmidt
Summary: The electrification cost in sub-Saharan Africa varies greatly, and solar-powered standalone systems significantly reduce the cost. On average, electrification can be provided at a cost of 7 cents per person per day. Policymakers should consider electrification cost curves for different countries to develop targeted policies.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Economics
Setu Pelz, Elina Brutschin, Shonali Pachauri
Summary: Rural electrification is a means to improve the socio-economic conditions and living standards in rural areas. However, current policies and programs primarily focus on extending connections without considering other important factors. This article argues that next generation electrification policy should include measurement of supply attributes, consider local institutional capacity, and incorporate independent evaluation mechanisms.
ECONOMICS OF ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
(2022)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Francesco Tonini, Francesco Davide Sanvito, Fabrizio Colombelli, Emanuela Colombo
Summary: Access to electricity in rural areas is connected to socio-economic dynamics. However, the availability of electricity alone is not the sole factor contributing to local development. Complementary activities also play a crucial role in sustaining the development of rural communities. This study investigates the impact of complementary activities on electrification projects using the case study of Matembwe village in Tanzania. The findings show that while most complementary actions have limited effectiveness, access to microcredit and the establishment of a local cooperative have significant socio-economic impacts.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Nicolo Golinucci, Nicolo Stevanato, Negar Namazifard, Mohammad Amin Tahavori, Lamya Adil Sulliman Hussain, Benedetta Camilli, Federica Inzoli, Matteo Vincenzo Rocco, Emanuela Colombo
Summary: The coexistence of the need to improve economic conditions and the conscious use of environmental resources plays a central role in sustainable development. A novel integrated framework to evaluate the impact of new technological interventions is proposed and applied to smallholder coffee farms and supply chains in Kenya. The implementation of shading practices and the introduction of eco-pulpers have significant economic effects, providing additional income for farmers.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Arda Aktas, Miguel Poblete-Cazenave, Shonali Pachauri
Summary: The study shows that achieving universal access to clean cooking technologies in South Africa can improve overall population health, particularly for vulnerable groups that rely on polluting cooking technologies.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2022)
Editorial Material
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Shonali Pachauri, Setu Pelz, Christoph Bertram, Silvie Kreibiehl, Narasimha D. Rao, Youba Sokona, Keywan Riahi
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Xiao Han, Miguel Poblete-Cazenave, Setu Pelz, Shonali Pachauri
Summary: This study examines factors associated with household energy service and home appliance choices from the perspective of energy-related well-being. The results show that climate is more associated with heating and cooling energy service use, while demographic factors are more related to basic appliance and information service access. Advanced appliance acquisition is more associated with household income. Additionally, household income has a stronger relationship with the ownership of microwaves, computers, and air conditioners.
ENERGY FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
(2022)
Editorial Material
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Shonali Pachauri, Setu Pelz, Christoph Bertram, Narasimha D. Rao, Keywan Riahi
Summary: We appreciate Semieniuk et al.’s analysis as a supplementary perspective to highlight the unequal distribution of regional investment capabilities in addressing climate change. Our study is based on the estimates from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) WGIII's sixth assessment report (AR6), which consider regional differences in technology costs and use both purchasing power parity (PPP) and market exchange rates (MERs). We utilize these IPCC estimates to explore the question of how much regional investments should be financed within each region, taking fairness into consideration.
Article
Development Studies
Setu Pelz, Shonali Pachauri, Giacomo Falchetta
Summary: Empirical evaluation of the economic effects of electricity access in rural regions is challenging due to data scarcity and identification issues. Previous studies provide mixed evidence, making it necessary to further understand this linkage for designing effective policies. Our analysis on Ethiopia and Nigeria shows that rural electrification alone may not lead to immediate shifts in non-farm entrepreneurship and employment outcomes, highlighting the limitations of short-term survey datasets.
WORLD DEVELOPMENT PERSPECTIVES
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Leila Niamir, Shonali Pachauri
Summary: Anthropogenic climate change is having a growing impact on cities worldwide, leading to more extreme weather events and climate risks. Coastal cities are particularly vulnerable, with one billion people projected to be at risk of coastal hazards by 2050. The rise in sea levels poses serious threats to housing, infrastructure, and human health. Current adaptation efforts have mainly focused on incremental changes, neglecting the need for comprehensive transformative actions that incorporate behavioral, cultural, and institutional options. A coordinated multi-level governance mechanism is necessary to bridge the gap between ambitious adaptation and mitigation actions to enhance resilience in coastal cities.
FRONTIERS IN SUSTAINABLE CITIES
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Mathilde Rainard, Christopher J. Smith, Shonali Pachauri
Summary: An orthodox assumption sees gender equality as a solution to the climate crisis, which assumes that empowering women will have significant positive effects on countries' environmental performances. However, the literature on the gender-climate nexus often neglects feminist epistemology and incorporates harmful gendered assumptions into its analyses and policy recommendations. To address this, a mixed-method approach, including feminist theories, was used to investigate the links between gender equality and climate change mitigation actions. The analysis examined the correlations between two metrics of gender equity, the Global Gender Gap Index and the Gender Inequality Index, and a sustainability metric, the Environmental Performance Index. Results showed that the relationship between gender equality and environmental performances is context-specific and multifaceted, highlighting the need for better integration of radical gender theories and interdisciplinary research in climate change science.
FRONTIERS IN CLIMATE
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Giacomo Falchetta, Francesco Semeria, Marta Tuninetti, Vittorio Giordano, Shonali Pachauri, Edward Byers
Summary: In sub-Saharan Africa, agriculture relies heavily on rainfed irrigation and inadequate rural electricity supply is a major barrier to adopting irrigation. Through the use of a spatially explicit integrated modeling framework, it has been shown that standalone solar photovoltaic irrigation systems can meet over one third of the crop water requirements in smallholder cropland of sub-Saharan Africa. This has the potential to increase incomes, achieve food security, and be paid back by farmers within 20 years.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Transportation
Pierluigi Coppola, Marco Bocciolone, Emanuela Colombo, Francesco De Fabiis, Francesco Davide Sanvito
Summary: To tackle carbon emissions, governments at national and local levels are encouraging the replacement of old diesel vehicles with cleaner alternatives like electric and hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles. This paper focuses on the economic and ecological transition of local public transit bus fleets, using a methodology based on a Life-Cycle Assessment approach. The study validates the approach in the urban and ex-urban contexts of Italy, showing that full-electric buses have the lowest environmental impact in urban areas, while liquefied natural gas-powered buses may be suitable for ex-urban routes.
CASE STUDIES ON TRANSPORT POLICY
(2023)
Article
Computer Science, Information Systems
Davide Fioriti, Nicolo Stevanato, Pietro Ducange, Francesco Marcelloni, Emanuela Colombo, Davide Poli
Summary: Energy access is crucial for socio-economic growth, but achieving universal access remains a challenge due to resource scarcity and a large unserved population. In this paper, a comprehensive methodology is presented to develop data-sharing platforms, capture socio-economic and time-series data, and propose a prototype application. The methodology leverages an extensive literature review to identify demand determinants and consuming entities, and the proposed architecture utilizes state-of-the-art NoSQL databases for data collection and storage.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Sibel Eker, Alessio Mastrucci, Shonali Pachauri, Bas van Ruijven
Summary: Cooling homes with air conditioners is important but can lead to increased hydrofluorocarbon emissions and carbon emissions. The extent and drivers of air-conditioning adoption are unclear, but social media data can provide insights into purchasing trends. Globally, parents of small children and middle-aged, highly educated married or cohabiting males show greater interest in air-conditioning. These findings can improve our understanding of future cooling demand and guide sustainable cooling management.
Letter
Environmental Sciences
Caroline Zimm, Thomas Schinko, Shonali Pachauri
LANCET PLANETARY HEALTH
(2022)