In September 2019, during the UN Secretary General’s Climate Action Summit in New York, the Least Developed Countries (LDC) launched their LDC Group Vision for a climate-resilient future through climate-resilient development pathways by 2030 and delivery of net-zero emissions by 2050. One among the three aspects of the vision document is the LDC Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Initiative for Sustainable Development (LDC REEEI) framework that supports LDCs to achieve 100 percent access to modern energy by 2030 and 100 percent electricity from renewable energy sources by 2050. The framework attempts to fill the energy access gap through knowledge support and cooperation.
The Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7 ensures access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all by 2030. There are six indicators to measure progress of SDG 7. The indicator 7.1.1 measures the progress as ‘proportion of population with access to electricity’. Only 52 percent of the population has access to electricity in LDCs. This article discusses the possibilities and challenges associated with the universal access to electricity target (as per SDG 7 and LDC REEEI) through 100 percent renewables (as per LDC REEEI) for LDCs.
The access to electricity scenario among the LDCs is presented in figure 1. The figure clearly indicates that in 11 African LDCs, less than 30 percent of the population has access to electricity, while in 15 African LDCs the figure ranges between 30 percent and 50 percent. The electricity access rates are higher in case of Asian and island LDCs though with visible access gap in eight countries. About 26 out of 32 African LDCs need to provide electricity to more than 50 percent of their population to achieve universal electrification goal by 2030. A huge gap exists between the SDG goal and present scenario, especially in the case of African LDCs.
Figure 1: Percentage of population with access to electricity in LDCs (2018) Source: The World Bank.
Less than 50 percent of the population has access to electricity in about nine LDCs (Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Liberia, Mauritania, Somalia, and South Sudan) with more than 85 percent of their electricity generation share through oil-based products. In these LDCs, increasing access to electricity as per the existing generation scenario would add huge energy import expenditure as well as would also increase their vulnerability to the oil market volatilities. In any case, the LDCs with low electrification rates would need huge investments and strong policy push to build generation and transmission infrastructure to achieve 100 percent electrification. For the LDCs with low electrification rates, there is potential to build their electricity access roadmaps and infrastructure with more share of renewable energy in the total electricity generation.
Four island LDCs (Comoros, Kiribati, Timor-Leste, and Tuvalu) with almost 100 percent oil-based generations has already achieved electricity access for more than 80 percent of their population. An integrated energy roadmap 2017–2025 is already in place in Kiribati that speaks of enhancing the share of renewables and improve energy efficiency. Electricity access versus 100 percent renewables in these cases still needs further discussions as revamping of the existing infrastructure would demand huge investments. However, there is always scope for increasing the share of renewable energy with further addition in power generation.
In 20 LDCs, the share of hydropower is more than 50 percent in power generation, and five (Afghanistan, Bhutan, Cambodia, Nepal, Lao PDR, and Nepal) among them achieved more than 90 percent electrification. Bhutan achieved 100 percent electrification with almost 100 percent generation from hydropower. Nepal also achieved 94 percent electrification with almost 98 percent share of hydropower in total generation. Lao PDR achieved 98 percent electrification with 88 percent generation from hydropower and 5 percent generation from solar energy. These three countries showed the way towards achieving universal access to electricity the renewable way with hydro as the driving force. Countries like Lesotho and Democratic Republic of Congo have almost 100 percent generation from hydropower (with 47 percent and 19 percent electricity access rates) and much more untapped hydropower potential to achieve SDG 7. Hydropower is a local resource with the potential to provide electricity through grid as well as through off-grid solutions. However, there are social issues like displacements and resettlements associated with large hydropower projects.
Hydropower is a local resource with the potential to provide electricity through grid as well as through off-grid solutions. However, there are social issues like displacements and resettlements associated with large hydropower projects
The data on composition of gross electricity production in LDCs by energy source shows almost negligible share of solar energy in total generation. Thirty two LDCs have signed and ratified the International Solar Alliance (ISA) framework, majority being the African LDCs. ISA, with its headquarters in India, provides a platform for cooperation among the Sun Belt countries to harness solar power to address their energy needs. There is a scope for harnessing solar power to bridge the electricity access gaps among the member LDCs with support from ISA platform.
Grid-based electrification is more demanding in terms of infrastructure and investments when compared to off-grid solutions. In this scenario, a combination of grid and off-grid solutions is a much more suitable option to increase access rates. For example, Cambodia achieved 97 percent household electrification through grid and off-grid measures. The un-electrified households in Cambodia already received solar-based basic devises and upgrading the performances of these devises is expected to help these households enjoy access to basic electricity. Various financial and business models exist for solar-based home systems across Asian and African countries to address basic electricity needs as well as for power backup. However, a reliable grid-based electrification is the most desirable option in the long-term.
A combination of grid and off-grid solutions is a much more suitable option to increase access rates
SDG 7 ensures provision of reliable electricity to all by 2030. A huge access gap still exists among African LDCs. The LDCs articulated their leadership by developing the goal of achieving 100 percent access to electricity (by 2030) through 100 percent renewable energy (by 2050). LDCs with low electricity access rates are in the advantageous position of bridging their access gap through their untapped hydro and solar potential as well as through off-grid solutions. However, the possibility of achieving 100 percent electrification through 100 percent renewables also depends strongly on the local renewable energy potential.
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