Cost-effectiveness of rural energy access strategies

Jörg Ankel-Peters, Gunther Bensch, Kevin Moull, Mascha Rauschenbach and Maximiliane Sievert

No 1116, Ruhr Economic Papers from RWI - Leibniz-Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, Ruhr-University Bochum, TU Dortmund University, University of Duisburg-Essen

Abstract: Quantitative benchmarks for cost-effective provision of rural energy access are difficult to obtain because deployment costs vary across technologies, contexts, and technical assistance approaches - but crucially also across sustainability assumptions. As an alternative, this policy perspective provides a qualitative cost-effectiveness assessment of different energy access strategies. We discuss the different cost factors, accounting for differences in impact potentials across rural energy access options. We include on-grid and off-grid electrification and improved cooking technologies. The focus is on rural sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), where energy access rates are low. We document largely disappointing impacts of high-power electrification technologies, turning stand-alone solar into the more cost-effective electrification strategy in that setting. We conclude by emphasizing the high impact-cost ratio for energy-efficient biomass cookstoves.

Keywords: Energy access; rural electrification; modern cooking energy; sub-Sahara Africa (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: H54 O21 O33 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:zbw:rwirep:319070

DOI: 10.4419/96973295

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