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The document examines the relationship between the bioeconomy—defined as sectors based on biomass production and processing—and the rapid growth of variable renewable energy (VRE) and electrification. It argues that while electrification competes with biofuels in some areas, such as road transport, it offers complementary and synergistic opportunities in others. For instance, biomass provides dispatchable power to balance VRE, and low-cost solar energy can enable critical infrastructure for agricultural bioeconomies in low-income countries. The text emphasizes that the bioeconomy should be designed to support and benefit from electrification to achieve deep decarbonization.

The report examines the high cost and regressive nature of India's energy consumption subsidies, which totaled INR 87,830 crore (USD 13.1 billion) in 2017. It highlights a critical knowledge gap, as the last comprehensive distributional analysis is based on 2011 census data. The document proposes several targeting mechanisms, including opt-out schemes, volumetric quotas, categorical targeting based on social or geographic criteria, and the use of proxy means testing via income and asset data. It specifically analyzes the Ujjwala scheme's success in connection targeting and the challenges of sustained LPG usage among the poor due to ongoing consumption costs.

The report assesses how India's LPG subsidy schemes, specifically PAHAL (DBTL) and Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY), affect poor women. It finds that while PMUY has increased LPG access and reduced drudgery—saving women an average of one hour per day—significant inefficiencies remain. Many poor households are still left behind due to affordability and distribution barriers, while a large share of consumption subsidies benefit wealthier households. The report recommends improving targeting, reviewing the PMUY loan system to ensure affordability for the poorest, and adopting a more holistic clean cooking strategy.

The briefing discusses the risks of top-down rural electrification, citing a failed $100,000 project in India as an example of stranded assets. It proposes that community-led minigrids—designed in partnership with local leadership structures like cooperatives—can lower system costs and electricity prices by 60% from 2018 levels. RMI's Africa Energy Program is implementing the 'Sharing the Power' project over three years in sub-Saharan Africa, with potential testing sites in Nigeria and Ethiopia, to demonstrate how community involvement in planning and operation enhances financial and social sustainability.

The document examines how the bioeconomy interacts with the rise of cheap solar, wind, and battery technologies. It identifies competitive pressures in ground transport and power generation, complementary roles for bioenergy in aviation, marine transport, and heavy industry, and synergistic opportunities where electrification enables bioeconomy value chains and lower-carbon biofuel production.

The Alliance for Rural Electrification (ARE), in collaboration with AMDA, Smart Power India, and Swedfund, launched the Consumer Protection Principles for Clean Energy Mini-Grids in October 2019. These principles establish minimum standards of practice across six key areas: quality consumer care, supply quality and safety, fair contracting and billing, data privacy, professional organisation, and social measures. The framework allows mini-grid companies, investors, and governments to either 'endorse' the principles as a goal for alignment or 'commit' to them as an embodiment of their daily operations.

The study evaluates the interactions between land policies and energy technology subsidies in eastern Africa, finding that while sustainable biomass production can reduce GHG emissions by 10%, it may delay health and energy access goals. Conversely, an optimized portfolio of technology subsidies could further reduce GHG emissions by 10%, lower air pollution mortality by 20%, and increase energy access by 15%. The analysis highlights the importance of prioritizing biogas, LPG, and ethanol for synergistic benefits, while PV technologies primarily improve energy access.

Forty-seven civil society organisations have urged the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) to align its operations with the Paris Agreement by ending investments in fossil fuels and prioritizing renewable energy and energy access for poor communities.

The report identifies that Ontario provided nearly CAD 700 million in public subsidies for fossil fuel consumption in 2018/19. These primarily consist of tax exemptions for aviation, railway, and agricultural fuels, as well as direct spending on natural gas infrastructure. The authors argue that these subsidies distort the market and hinder climate goals, recommending a transparent provincial self-review to identify more sustainable alternatives for energy affordability and industry competitiveness.

The document assesses the market potential and specific needs of refugees and IDPs in the DRC, highlighting significant spending power and a high demand for micro-loans and energy solutions. It identifies key opportunities for businesses to provide digital credit, improved money transfer services, and affordable electricity, particularly through PAYG schemes, while noting that most displaced populations possess the formal identification necessary to access bank accounts.

The KawiSafi Ventures Fund achieved final fund close in October 2018 and expanded its portfolio with a new investment in Redavia, a commercial and industrial solar company. In 2018, portfolio companies in Kenya and Rwanda offset 243,622 tons of climate-warming emissions and impacted 2,962,971 lives. Since its inception, the fund has averted 455,474 tons of emissions and reached 5,539,543 individuals. The fund's impact targets were adjusted following the fund close to 1,011,900 tons of emissions averted and 10,119,000 lives impacted. KawiSafi reports a cost of $66.67 per ton of CO2eq reduced and has leveraged GCF's anchor investment at a 2.3:1 match. The fund also implemented a responsible investing policy and conducted ESG reviews, finding portfolio companies to be at maturity levels 2 to 3 on the ESG scale. Gender-specific outcomes include 49% of impacted lives being women and the training of over 2,800 women in the solar sector.

The report argues that shifting subsidies from kerosene to off-grid solar is economically viable and socially beneficial for India's rural poor. It details three primary subsidy pathways—targeting households, manufacturers, or financial institutions—and provides a framework for administration, funding, and beneficiary targeting to achieve '24x7 Power for All'.

Kivu Green Energy (KGE) is deploying solar PV and storage mini-grids in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to replace expensive and unreliable diesel generation. Operating in challenging environments like North Kivu, KGE provides electricity to homes, businesses, and humanitarian organizations. The company aims to scale its capacity from a 1.3MW project in Goma to 1 GW by 2033 to serve 5 million urban customers, supported by the Energy Access Booster award.

The document discusses the economic challenges of deploying clean energy mini-grids in Africa, noting high upfront costs and low revenues from poor customers. It aims to provide policymakers and donors with a toolkit of retail tariff and subsidy options to make mini-grids more profitable and sustainable for private investors.

The document examines the 'viability gap' in mini-grid business models, where high capital costs and low-revenue customer bases make private investment challenging. It outlines various retail tariff approaches—ranging from uniform national tariffs to value-based pricing—and details subsidy structures, emphasizing output-based capital subsidies for distribution. The guide provides specific country examples from Africa and Asia and offers management considerations to reduce policy uncertainty and administrative overhead for developers.

The iShack project in Enkanini, South Africa, provides solar home systems to households in an informal settlement, reducing reliance on hazardous energy sources and creating local employment. Supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and South Africa's Green Fund, the initiative has installed 1,026 solar systems, saving 92,556 kWH per year and creating 11 jobs for residents. The project focuses on incremental upgrades to slums through green technology and skills training for community-based 'iShack Agents'.

The report examines how kerosene and LPG subsidy policies and their reforms affect women and girls in low-income households across Bangladesh, India, and Nigeria, focusing on income, energy use, and energy supply effects.

The document examines gender imbalances in the energy sector of the Lower Mekong Region, noting that women are under-represented in technical roles and often excluded from energy decision-making. It highlights how gender norms, limited access to education, and siloed policy environments hinder women's participation in the transition to renewable energy. The briefing recommends promoting equal workforce opportunities, exploring community energy models, and developing gender-responsive national policies to ensure a just transition.

The 2019 report 'Chilling Prospects' tracks the progress of sustainable cooling access, noting that 1.05 billion people remain at high risk due to lack of cooling. It highlights the development of National Cooling Plans in China and India and introduces the 'Cooling for All Needs Assessment' to move beyond equipment-based projections toward a holistic approach covering human safety, food security, and health services. The report emphasizes the risk posed by the 2.2 billion lower-middle income people who may adopt inefficient cooling devices, increasing GHG emissions.

The report finds that Madagascar faces significant energy deficits, with grid expansion stagnating at 11.4% since 2010. To reach universal access by 2030, the document argues that a shift toward decentralized solar and mini-grids is essential, requiring a total investment of 2.3 billion dollars for off-grid electricity and improved cooking solutions. Key barriers include the low purchasing power of rural households, a lack of quality standards for solar products, and a heavy reliance on traditional biomass for cooking.