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The Power of Electricity: How Effective Is It in Promoting Sustainable Development in Rural Off-Grid Islands in the Philippines?

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  • Lorafe Lozano

    (Center for Research in Energy Systems and Technologies (CREST) and Engineering Graduate Program, School of Engineering, University of San Carlos, Cebu City 6000, Philippines
    Department of Industrial Engineering, University of San Carlos, Cebu City 6000, Philippines)

  • Evelyn B. Taboada

    (Center for Research in Energy Systems and Technologies (CREST) and Engineering Graduate Program, School of Engineering, University of San Carlos, Cebu City 6000, Philippines
    Department of Chemical Engineering, University of San Carlos, Cebu City 6000, Philippines)

Abstract

Electrification plays a crucial role in the advancement of rural communities but establishing its impact to the communities’ sustainable development remains a challenge. This paper presents a pragmatic framework for assessing how electrification affects sustainable development at the grassroots level with eight indicators in the economic, technical, social, and environmental dimensions highlighted. An exploratory factor analysis approach is applied to determine how these dimensions contribute to the community’s overall sustainable development. The framework is applied in two islands in the Philippines of less than 500 households and varying electrification levels. Results indicate that Gilutongan Island, which has less than 24-h electricity access rarely find productive uses of electricity and still make use of conventional fuels for lighting. Meanwhile, Cobrador Island, which has 24-h access see improvements in almost all aspects, although they are slightly burdened by the unaffordability of tariffs. This means that islands with limited hours for electricity access rarely experience positive impacts to their socioeconomic development while the opposite is true for islands with longer access. The framework can be a useful tool for decision- and policy-makers to assess electrification in rural off-grid communities and to streamline efforts in helping these communities achieve sustainable development.

Suggested Citation

  • Lorafe Lozano & Evelyn B. Taboada, 2021. "The Power of Electricity: How Effective Is It in Promoting Sustainable Development in Rural Off-Grid Islands in the Philippines?," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-17, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:14:y:2021:i:9:p:2705-:d:550865
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    Cited by:

    1. Lorafe Lozano & Edward M. Querikiol & Evelyn B. Taboada, 2021. "The Viability of Providing 24-Hour Electricity Access to Off-Grid Island Communities in the Philippines," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-18, October.
    2. Grigorios L. Kyriakopoulos & Dalia Streimikiene & Tomas Baležentis, 2022. "Addressing Challenges of Low-Carbon Energy Transition," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-7, August.

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