The Long Road to Universal Electrification: A Critical Look at Present Pathways and Challenges

Nishant Narayan, Victor Vega-Garita, Zian Qin, Jelena Popovic-Gerber, Pavol Bauer and Miro Zeman
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Nishant Narayan: Department of Electrical Sustainable Energy, Delft University of Technology, 2600 Delft, The Netherlands
Victor Vega-Garita: Department of Electrical Sustainable Energy, Delft University of Technology, 2600 Delft, The Netherlands
Zian Qin: Department of Electrical Sustainable Energy, Delft University of Technology, 2600 Delft, The Netherlands
Jelena Popovic-Gerber: Power Electronics Group, University of Twente, 7500 Enschede, The Netherlands
Pavol Bauer: Department of Electrical Sustainable Energy, Delft University of Technology, 2600 Delft, The Netherlands
Miro Zeman: Department of Electrical Sustainable Energy, Delft University of Technology, 2600 Delft, The Netherlands

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 3, 1-20

Abstract: Nearly 840 million people still lack access to electricity, while over a billion more have an unreliable electricity connection. In this article, the three different electrification pathways—grid extension, centralized microgrids, and standalone solar-based solutions, such as pico-solar and solar home systems (SHS)—are critically examined while understanding their relative merits and demerits. Grid extension can provide broad scale access at low levelized costs but requires a certain electricity demand threshold and population density to justify investments. To a lesser extent, centralized (off-grid) microgrids also require a minimum demand threshold and knowledge of the electricity demand. Solar-based solutions are the main focus in terms of off-grid electrification in this article, given the equatorial/tropical latitudes of the un(der-)electrified regions. In recent times, decentralized solar-based off-grid solutions, such as pico-solar and SHS, have shown the highest adoption rates and promising impetus with respect to basic lighting and electricity for powering small appliances. However, the burning question is—from lighting a million to empowering a billion—can solar home systems get us there?The two main roadblocks for SHS are discussed, and the requirements from the ideal electrification pathway are introduced. A bottom-up, interconnected SHS-based electrification pathway is proposed as the missing link among the present electrification pathways.

Keywords: rural electrification; solar home systems; microgrids; SDG 7; multi-tier framework (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (9)

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