Energy & Development (Global Energy Access Network Case Studies)

Abstract

The present volume represents the culmination of one of the Global Energy Access Network's central initiatives in our inaugural 2016-17 year. We observed that many of our student members had previously worked in areas of poor or missing energy access, even if the projects that brought them to those communities were not directly related to energy access. We sought to take advantage of students’ contextual knowledge from these experiences, and provide a forum for them to share their latent experiences widely with others. The six vignettes in this volume address a diverse set of topics related to energy access. They span five countries (India, Indonesia, Madagascar, Nicaragua, and Peru), primarily in rural areas, but sometimes address issues in urban areas as well. The entities featured in these stories include local and state governments, community-based organizations, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Topically, they address a variety of technologies, including solar, wind, and hydroelectric power, as well as improved cookstoves. The issues discussed range from financial viability of utility providers, to relationships between local community members and distant institutions, to the gap that sometimes persists between householders’ beliefs and “expert knowledge.” Throughout, the authors highlight the richness of the setting and context even as they focus in on issues specific to energy access.