Economic sustainability and social inclusion in rural electrical grid design

Uchenna Godswill Onu, Gabriel Nasser Doyle de Doile, Antonio Carlos Zambroni de Souza and Pedro Paulo Balestrassi

Utilities Policy, 2024, vol. 89, issue C

Abstract: Electricity access and affordability are critical for sustainable development. A significant global population without access to electricity is in the rural communities of developing countries. Rural grid investments are unattractive to investors due to low electricity demand and poverty of rural consumers. This paper assessed the financial capacity of rural dwellers to pay for electricity installation. The results reveal that rural consumers can barely pay for electricity. We propose a paradigm shift and alternative grid design models that recognize the various economic and social status of rural consumers. One suggested model proposes using agricultural production to drive social inclusion and economic sustainability of microgrid investments.

Keywords: Poverty trap; Microgrids; Sustainable development; Grid design (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:juipol:v:89:y:2024:i:c:s0957178724000729

DOI: 10.1016/j.jup.2024.101779

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