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The research utilizes user journey mapping to analyze the experiences of household and business users of a 6 kW solar PV mini-grid in northwestern Tanzania. The study concludes that a single value proposition is insufficient for diverse user groups and emphasizes the importance of expectation management and continuous engagement to prevent service disuse or 'energy stacking'.

The document examines the failure of South Africa's energy policies to ensure affordable electricity for the poor. It highlights that poor households spend up to 17% of their income on energy and identifies two main causes: the absence of a formal definition of 'affordable energy' and the systemic failure of municipalities to distribute Free Basic Electricity (FBE) grants. Specifically, in 2019, while the national budget funded basic services for 9.8 million households, only 2 million actually received free electricity, leaving 5.4 million eligible households without the benefit and resulting in a loss of R6 billion in value.

The document argues that the promise of affordable electricity for all in South Africa, established by the Energy Act of 1998, remains unfulfilled. It identifies two primary causes: the lack of a clear government definition for 'affordable energy' and the failure of municipalities to distribute Free Basic Electricity (FBE) grants to eligible low-income households. Research indicates a significant gap in 2019, where national budget support was provided for 9.8 million households to receive basic services, but only 2 million households actually received free basic electricity through their municipalities.

The report argues that South Africa's promise of affordable electricity for the poor remains unfulfilled 20 years after the 1998 White Paper on Energy. It highlights that poor households spend a disproportionate 17% of their income on electricity and that the Free Basic Electricity (FBE) program, which provides 50 kWh per month, is severely under-implemented. The document claims that in 2019, while national funding supported 9.8 million households for free services, only 2 million actually received free electricity, leaving over 5.4 million eligible poor households without the benefit and resulting in an estimated R6 billion in diverted funds.

The document argues that the goal of affordable energy in South Africa has not been met, leaving poor households to spend up to 17% of their income on energy and forcing many to use dangerous sources like paraffin and coal. It identifies two primary causes: the lack of a formal government standard defining 'affordable energy' and the systemic failure of the Free Basic Electricity (FBE) policy. Specifically, the briefing highlights a significant gap in FBE implementation, noting that in 2019, while the national budget funded free basic services for 9.8 million households, only 2 million actually received free electricity from their municipalities. This resulted in 5.4 million eligible households missing out on benefits valued at R6 billion.

The paper outlines how national and city governments can collaborate to decarbonise the power sector, emphasizing that local governments are a 'missing link' due to urban areas accounting for two thirds of global final energy consumption. It advocates for a '3D' transition—decentralisation, digitalisation, and decarbonisation—where local governments accelerate national efforts by reforming regulations, investing in renewable infrastructure, and engaging communities, provided they are supported by national policies.

The report analyzes the mini-grid sectors in Sierra Leone and Nigeria, focusing on regulatory frameworks, tariff structures, subsidies, and the productive use of energy (PUE). It highlights that while Sierra Leone has established a regulatory framework, its market is nascent and characterized by a top-down, donor-funded approach, whereas Nigeria has a more mature, private-sector-led market. Key findings emphasize the need for Sierra Leone to shift toward a bottom-up approach, implement results-based financing (RBF), and integrate PUE to improve the commercial viability of mini-grids and reduce end-user tariffs.

The report assesses the mini-grid sectors in Sierra Leone and Nigeria, focusing on regulatory frameworks, tariffs, subsidies, and productive use of electricity (PUE). It highlights that Sierra Leone's mini-grid tariffs (averaging USD 0.79/kWh) are higher than Nigeria's (averaging USD 0.58/kWh) due to differences in market scale, planning approaches, and household income. The document recommends that Sierra Leone adopt a long-term national strategy, streamline import duty exemptions, and implement a hybrid up-front cash grant/results-based financing (RBF) subsidy scheme to lower costs and attract private investment.

The document examines on-bill financing as a tool to overcome financial barriers to clean energy adoption, specifically for low-and moderate-income (LMI) households and renters. It highlights design features such as using utility payment history instead of credit scores and tying obligations to the utility meter to solve the 'split incentive' problem for renters. The report provides case studies of the Hawaii Green Energy Money Saver (GEM$) and Orcas Power and Light Cooperative's (OPALCO) Switch It Up! programs, demonstrating how these models facilitate the installation of solar PV and beneficial electrification projects while ensuring positive cash flow for participants.

The document argues that while climate and energy scenarios are essential for target setting, they often rely on legacy modeling that can constrain imagination and overlook non-linear transformations. It distinguishes between scenarios (future snapshots), pathways (adaptive courses), and roadmaps (deterministic methods), and advises decision-makers to use a combination of top-down models and bottom-up assessments to identify a broader 'opportunity space'. The author highlights critical gaps in current scenarios, including a lack of stakeholder diversity, neglect of equity and non-emissions benefits, and a failure to account for learning curves in technological innovation and demand-side efficiency.

The report argues that achieving economies of scale in Nigeria's solar sector requires a transition from accelerated importation to local assembly and eventually local manufacturing. It identifies that approximately 7 million Nigerian households are ready for immediate solar home system (SHS) deployment based on geospatial data. The analysis demonstrates that combining four key enablers—import tariff waivers, reduced cost of debt, increased plant capacity, and product subsidies—could reduce SHS prices by 34% and increase the number of households able to afford these systems by 288%.

The study examines energy poverty in Malawi, finding that unconditional social cash transfers significantly increase the likelihood of ultra-poor households owning improved cookstoves and having a source of lighting.

The report highlights that 600 million Africans lack electricity, with sub-Saharan Africa being the most affected. It argues that while legacy megaprojects like the Inga 3 dam and Stiegler's Gorge are financially and environmentally risky, decentralized renewable energy (DREs) and public-private partnerships offer more sustainable paths to electrification. The text also examines the geopolitical influence of Russia's nuclear diplomacy and China's investment in coal-fired plants, while noting the severe health impacts of biomass reliance among the rural poor.

The COP26 Resilience Hub Synthesis Report outlines five core messages for advancing global climate resilience: the necessity of Locally Led Adaptation (LLA), the urgent need for diversified and increased adaptation finance (preferring grants over loans), the bridging of knowledge and implementation gaps, the role of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) across urban, coastal, and rural settings, and the requirement to center marginalized groups—including women, youth, and Indigenous peoples—in decision-making. The report details thematic insights across ten areas, including finance, water, food, energy, and health, while emphasizing the need to scale these efforts toward COP27.

The statement argues that international public finance must shift from fossil fuels to clean energy to meet climate goals. It highlights that G20 members provide significantly more public finance to fossil fuels than to clean energy and calls for an immediate end to all new international public finance for fossil fuel projects across the entire value chain. The document urges governments and financial institutions to avoid loopholes, increase climate finance for the Global South, and prioritize low-income countries through debt relief and grant-based finance, specifically calling for a joint statement and leadership from the United Kingdom ahead of COP 26.

The briefing examines the gap between South Africa's policy goals for affordable energy and the reality for low-income households. It identifies two primary failures: the lack of a clear definition for "affordable energy" and the systemic failure of the Free Basic Electricity (FBE) program. The document reveals that in 2019, while national grants covered 9.8 million households for basic services, only 2 million actually received free electricity, leaving approximately 5.4 million eligible poor households without the benefit and resulting in a loss of R6 billion in 2019 alone.

The document argues that the South African government has failed to fulfill its 1998 commitment to provide affordable electricity to poor households, small businesses, and farmers. It identifies two primary causes: a lack of a clear definition for "affordable electricity" and the systemic failure of the Free Basic Electricity (FBE) policy. While the national budget allocated funds for 9.8 million households to receive 50kWh of free electricity in 2019, only 2 million households actually received it. The briefing highlights that municipalities are responsible for registering low-income households and distributing these funds, but a lack of oversight has led to an estimated R6 billion in missing funds and millions of eligible households paying for electricity out of pocket.

Cooling access gaps for the rural and urban poor grew across all analyzed regions in 2021. In Africa, 776 million people across 31 high-impact countries face cooling challenges, with 215 million urban poor at highest risk. In Asia and the Middle East, the population at highest risk rose to 645 million in 2021, with significant rural poor increases in India and Bangladesh. In Latin America and the Caribbean, the number of people at highest risk in six high-impact countries reached 48.8 million, with the majority being the urban poor.

In 2021, 1.09 billion people in 54 high-impact countries were at high risk due to a lack of access to cooling, an increase of 50 million compared to 2020. This growth is attributed to the combined effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, which pushed millions into extreme poverty, and increasing global temperatures. Additionally, 2.34 billion lower-middle income people are identified as a risk to energy systems and GHG emissions because they are likely to purchase inefficient cooling devices due to price sensitivity.

The report estimates that achieving universal Tier 1 electricity and Tier 4 clean cooking access in Ghana, Mozambique, and Vietnam will cost between USD 38 billion and 48 billion by 2030. It identifies a significant finance gap, noting that current commitments are far below the required levels, particularly for clean cooking. The analysis highlights that while standalone solar is a primary pathway for electricity in rural areas, mini-grids are hindered by regulatory uncertainty. The report recommends a combination of results-based financing, demand-side subsidies, and the removal of fiscal barriers like VAT on solar equipment to bridge the affordability gap for low-income households.