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Mapping synergies and trade-offs between energy and the sustainable development goals: A case study of off-grid solar energy in Rwanda

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  • Bisaga, Iwona
  • Parikh, Priti
  • Tomei, Julia
  • To, Long Seng

Abstract

Energy access is crucial for human well-being and poverty reduction. In sub-Saharan Africa, the failure of grid systems to provide electricity access to last mile users has led to the rapid scale up of off-grid solutions. The authors examine synergies and tradeoffs between solar off-grid solutions and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Rwanda which as a nation has successfully implemented innovative solar off-grid systems at scale. This paper is the first to map the relationship between energy and the 169 Targets of the 2030 Agenda in a specific country and sector context by operationalising the framework developed in Fuso Nerini et al. (2018). By doing so, this paper demonstrates the need for context-specific rapid assessment tools to monitor and improve energy access. The paper identifies synergies between 80 (47%) of the SDG targets and off-grid solar systems in Rwanda, thus demonstrating the wideranging benefits and value added through the inclusion of the off-grid solar energy sector in the electrification strategy. The paper demonstrates how mainstreaming off-grid policies and prioritising investment in the off-grid sector can realise human development and well-being, build physical and social infrastructures, and achieve sustainable management of environmental resources.

Suggested Citation

  • Bisaga, Iwona & Parikh, Priti & Tomei, Julia & To, Long Seng, 2021. "Mapping synergies and trade-offs between energy and the sustainable development goals: A case study of off-grid solar energy in Rwanda," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 149(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:enepol:v:149:y:2021:i:c:s0301421520307394
    DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2020.112028
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Kennedy, Ryan & Numminen, Sini & Sutherland, Joseph & Urpelainen, Johannes, 2019. "Multilevel customer segmentation for off-grid solar in developing countries: Evidence from solar home systems in Rwanda and Kenya," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 186(C).
    2. Vanesa Castán Broto & Lucy Stevens & Emmanuel Ackom & Julia Tomei & Priti Parikh & Iwona Bisaga & Long Seng To & Joshua Kirshner & Yacob Mulugetta, 2017. "A research agenda for a people-centred approach to energy access in the urbanizing global south," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 2(10), pages 776-779, October.
    3. Michael Grimm & Luciane Lenz & Jörg Peters & Maximiliane Sievert, 2020. "Demand for Off-Grid Solar Electricity: Experimental Evidence from Rwanda," Journal of the Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, University of Chicago Press, vol. 7(3), pages 417-454.
    4. Francesco Fuso Nerini & Julia Tomei & Long Seng To & Iwona Bisaga & Priti Parikh & Mairi Black & Aiduan Borrion & Catalina Spataru & Vanesa Castán Broto & Gabrial Anandarajah & Ben Milligan & Yacob Mu, 2018. "Mapping synergies and trade-offs between energy and the Sustainable Development Goals," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 3(1), pages 10-15, January.
    5. Bartosz Soltowski & David Campos-Gaona & Scott Strachan & Olimpo Anaya-Lara, 2019. "Bottom-Up Electrification Introducing New Smart Grids Architecture—Concept Based on Feasibility Studies Conducted in Rwanda," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-19, June.
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    7. Scott Thacker & Daniel Adshead & Marianne Fay & Stéphane Hallegatte & Mark Harvey & Hendrik Meller & Nicholas O’Regan & Julie Rozenberg & Graham Watkins & Jim W. Hall, 2019. "Infrastructure for sustainable development," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 2(4), pages 324-331, April.
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