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This policy brief examines the kerosene subsidy system in India, highlighting its financial costs, systemic inefficiencies, and the barriers it creates for the adoption of off-grid solar lighting. The authors argue that reforming these subsidies is essential to transition rural households toward cleaner energy alternatives.

This research paper documents the deployment of solar energy in Sarda, a remote village in Odisha, India, highlighting how its location in a dense forest hinders market linkages and access to electricity and basic services.

This case study describes how the Kit Carson Electric Cooperative (KCEC) in northern New Mexico established a voluntary goal to meet 100 percent of its summer peak electricity demand with solar power by 2023.

This case study describes a 2013 capacity-building initiative led by the Renewables Academy AG (RENAC) in Kenya to train state utilities on the design and implementation of PV-diesel-hybrid mini-grids to reduce reliance on expensive and polluting diesel generators in rural areas.

This case study describes the 'Green Business Area' in Konseguela, Mali, a pilot project completed in 2016 by GERES. The project provides a dedicated site for rural businesses powered by a 100% renewable energy mini-grid combining solar photovoltaics and locally produced agro-fuels.

This case study describes EarthSpark International's implementation of a solar-powered microgrid in Les Anglais, Haiti, to provide reliable 24-hour electricity. It details the technical, logistical, and regulatory challenges overcome during the project, the development of the SparkMeter billing system, and the resulting economic benefits for local residents and businesses.

This report assesses the financial sustainability of the electricity sector in Rajasthan, India, using the Financial Sustainability Electricity Sector (FSES) framework. It finds that while generation capacity and reliability have improved, distribution companies (discoms) face severe financial distress due to an inability to recover operating costs through tariffs, leading to high debt and a heavy reliance on state government fiscal transfers.

This case study describes a capacity-building initiative led by Renewables Academy AG (RENAC) in November 2013 to support the Government of Kenya in transitioning rural diesel-powered mini-grids to PV-diesel hybrid systems.

This case study describes the 'Luz en Casa' (Light at Home) programme implemented by ACCIONA Microenergía Peru (AMP) and Fundación ACCIONA Microenergía (FUNDAME) to provide solar home systems (SHS) to isolated rural communities in Cajamarca, Peru.

This report describes the 'Energy, Ecodevelopment and Resilience in Africa (EERA)' project, which implemented a 'Smart Energy Path' methodology in Benin, Mali, and Togo. The project focused on creating environmentally sustainable and resilient energy services through a multi-sectoral, participatory decision-making process that prioritizes collective energy services over individual household access.

This case study describes the 'Lighting a Billion Lives' (LaBL) initiative by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), which aims to replace kerosene-based lighting with solar alternatives in un-electrified or poorly electrified rural areas through an entrepreneurial delivery model.

This 2012 report by the Stockholm Environment Institute analyzes two agricultural water management (AWM) scenarios in the Jaldhaka watershed of West Bengal, India: widespread rural electrification and the expansion of independent tea growing. Using community fieldwork and expert meetings, the report evaluates the potential impacts of these changes on various stakeholder groups, livelihoods, and the environment over a ten-year horizon.

This policy brief examines the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission, launched in 2009 to establish India as a global leader in solar energy and make solar power affordable by 2022. It analyzes the Mission's three-phase implementation strategy, focusing on grid-connected projects, off-grid applications for rural populations, and the development of domestic manufacturing and R&D. The document highlights the tension between using competitive bidding to lower tariffs and the risk of attracting inexperienced developers, while also critiquing the Mission's limited focus on the most energy-poor citizens and the lack of mandatory environmental impact assessments.

This report documents a two-day workshop held in Bagamoyo, Tanzania, in October 2003, focused on delivery mechanisms for rural electrification in Eastern and Southern Africa. It explores the intersection of energy supply technologies and organizational management to support rural development, emphasizing that electricity alone is insufficient for poverty reduction and must be integrated with education, social services, and income-generating activities.

This report evaluates a pilot project for the local management of rural electricity supply in Tanzania, specifically focusing on the Urambo Electric Consumers Co-operative Society (UECCO). It examines the transition from a state-managed utility model (TANESCO) to a community-managed cooperative, analyzing technical, financial, and sociological outcomes.

This report provides an overview of a workshop focused on rural electrification in four East African countries, specifically examining obstacles, potential solutions, and the role of bio-electrification, solar, wind, and hydro power.

This 1992 report by the Stockholm Environment Institute evaluates the technical, financial, and socio-economic impacts of rural electrification projects implemented by the Tanzania Electric Supply Company (TANESCO). The study finds that while electrification has provided substantial individual benefits—such as improved lighting and security—it has largely failed to achieve wider macro-economic goals, including the promotion of agro-industry and the reduction of deforestation. The report highlights severe financial losses in isolated diesel-powered areas, low supply reliability, and administrative weaknesses, recommending a restructuring of TANESCO's organization and a revision of tariff policies to improve sustainability.

A case study on a CDKN-supported pilot project in Uganda that tested the 'A-B-C-D Rural Electrification' model. The project demonstrated the technical and commercial viability of a distributed off-grid power model serving anchor customers, businesses, community facilities, and domestic households.

This guide outlines three federal financing programs offered by the US Department of Agriculture’s Rural Utilities Service (RUS) to help rural electricity providers develop commercial and residential energy efficiency loan programs, specifically focusing on on-bill financing options.

This report by the Alliance for Rural Electrification (ARE) outlines best practices for using decentralised renewable energy (DRE) to electrify rural health care facilities. It argues that DRE is the most cost-effective and rapid solution for providing essential power for medical equipment, vaccines, and emergency services, particularly in the context of pandemics like COVID-19. The document proposes a public-private partnership model combining 'smart grants' for initial capital and market-based compensation mechanisms, such as Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), to ensure long-term financial and technical sustainability. It includes 16 case studies from various regions to demonstrate diverse delivery models and technological applications.