Rural Electrification in the Global South: Possibilities and Consequences of Renewable Energies

Rural areas in many parts of the Global South persist with poverty and lack of opportunities. One of the major challenges these areas face is the lack of electricity.

The role of energy is widely recognized as an essential vehicle for reaching a number of sustainable development goals relating to human wellbeing, such as increased access to health, education and livelihood opportunities.

Moreover, the difficulties of extending the electricity grid to isolated rural areas have increased the viability and demand of renewable energy-based off-grid solutions, such as mini-grids.

While the relationship between energy and development is known from a macro perspective, the local sustainability impacts of mini-grid renewable energy rural electrification projects, and the factors that contribute to those impacts, have not yet been fully studied.

This research will investigate the socio-economic and environmental consequences of the installation of solar PV, wind energy and small-hydro energy systems in the Global South, through case studies in Colombia.

The research will take a multi-level approach looking at the influence of technological specificities of each technology, ownership type, along with local informal institutions.

Such an approach will contribute to a nuanced understanding of how renewable energy projects in rural areas can contribute or hinder the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, beyond SDG 7 on energy.