resources

BR18: Findings from the Bangalore Forward Look Workshop on mini-grid technologies for India

The Indian Institute of Sciences (IISc) together with the Smart Villages Initiative held a workshop in July 2016 focused on mini-grid energy generation, storage, and transmission technologies in India and how they will be implemented. The workshop was held at the IISc campus in Bangalore and brought together academics, students, policymakers, business people, and NGO practitioners interested in sustainable energy and rural electrification.

WR23: South America Dialogue for media professionals

A major objective of the Smart Villages Initiative is to raise public awareness of rural energy  access issues, sustainable energy technologies, and entrepreneurial approaches to energy in the developing world. In line with this objective, the Smart Villages Initiative, in partnership with the Green Building Council of Paraguay, held an international media dialogue for media professionals in Asuncion, Paraguay, …

WR23: South America Dialogue for media professionals Read More »

WR22: Mini-grid power generation, storage, and transmission technology in India for the next 10 years

A large portion of India’s population lacks access to reliable energy. For many, the solution to this will involve decentralised energy infrastructure in the form of renewable solar, or hybrid solar, diesel, battery, and biogas mini-grids. The Indian Institute of Sciences (IISc) together with the Smart Villages Initiative held a workshop focused on mini-grid energy …

WR22: Mini-grid power generation, storage, and transmission technology in India for the next 10 years Read More »

Unlocking climate finance for decentralised energy access

Achieving energy access for everyone requires more and better targeted investment, but what role does climate finance play in filling the funding gaps? This paper examines data on the major climate funds to assess what share of international public finance goes toward energy access and compares this to overall finance needs for the sector. It …

Unlocking climate finance for decentralised energy access Read More »

BR17: The energy and water nexus for off-grid communities in the Philippines and Southeast Asia

The Smart Villages Initiative together with the Philippines Center for Water and Sanitation (PCWS) held a workshop in Burgos, Ilocos Norte in the Philippines to discuss issues relating to the nexus of energy, water, and food in rural off-grid communities in Southeast Asia on 1-3 June 2016. Expert participants were brought together from the water, …

BR17: The energy and water nexus for off-grid communities in the Philippines and Southeast Asia Read More »

TR6: Rubagabaga Mini-Hydro Public-Private-Community Partnership Project – Baseline data analysis

The Smart Villages Initiative is undertaking a set of rigorous impact evaluations to understand the relationship between modern energy access, its productive use, and rural development outcomes. Through building an evidence-base, the Smart Villages Initiative will help stimulate the investment of public and private sector resources in off-grid energy and rural development and ensure that …

TR6: Rubagabaga Mini-Hydro Public-Private-Community Partnership Project – Baseline data analysis Read More »

WR21: The energy and water nexus for off-grid communities in the Philippines and Southeast Asia

Water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), energy, and agriculture are topics of great importance to every rural community. In Southeast Asia, these issues overlap in many remote villages where lack of access to energy is often coupled with lack of access to clean drinking water or water for sanitation or agriculture. This report summarises the information …

WR21: The energy and water nexus for off-grid communities in the Philippines and Southeast Asia Read More »

Renewables 2016 Global Status Report

2015 was an extraordinary year for renewable energy. Renewables are now cost competitive with fossil fuels in many markets and are established around the world as mainstream sources of energy. Cities, communities and companies are leading the rapidly expanding “100% renewable” movement, playing a vital role in advancing the global energy transition. Distributed renewable energy …

Renewables 2016 Global Status Report Read More »

WR19: Frontier energy storage technologies and global energy challenges

The University of Edinburgh together with the Smart Villages Initiative held a workshop at the Edinburgh Centre for Carbon Innovation on 11 May 2016. The workshop brought together social and physical scientists, industry representatives and entrepreneurs, energy and international development policy makers, and practitioners. The workshop provided an overview of new insights and research in battery …

WR19: Frontier energy storage technologies and global energy challenges Read More »

BR16: Findings from the Smart Villages West Africa regional workshop

There is substantial potential across West Africa to develop renewable energy resources for electricity generation. Despite the potential, a substantial portion of the population across the region remains without access to electricity. For cooking, a large majority of the population remains dependent on using biomass as the basic fuel in rudimentary cook stoves to meet …

BR16: Findings from the Smart Villages West Africa regional workshop Read More »

Insights from an energy poor Rwandan village

Primary data from 163 households was analyzed using a novel asset- and income-based index. We found statistically significant differences between households of different socio-economic status for a variety of indicators. Microeconometric techniques revealed the determinants of willingness-to-pay for electricity. We used primary data collected from 163 households in an off-grid Rwandan village to provide insights …

Insights from an energy poor Rwandan village Read More »

BR15: Findings from the Workshop on Frontier Energy Storage Technologies

The University of Edinburgh together with the Smart Villages Initiative held a workshop at the Edinburgh Centre for Carbon Innovation on 11 May 2016. The workshop brought together 27 social and physical scientists, industry representatives and entrepreneurs, energy and international development policy makers, and practitioners. The workshop provided an overview of new insights and research …

BR15: Findings from the Workshop on Frontier Energy Storage Technologies Read More »

WR18: Smart Villages and resilience to natural disasters

This report summarises the findings of a workshop on Smart Villages and Resilience to Natural Disasters. Co-hosted by the Asia Research Institute, National University of Singapore, and the Smart Villages Initiative, the workshop brought together two communities of researchers and practitioners focusing on energy access and natural disasters to promote active discussion around key issues …

WR18: Smart Villages and resilience to natural disasters Read More »

BR14: Findings from the workshop on sustainable energy sources for off-grid communities in Bolivia

2.5 million people in Bolivia live without a clean and sustainable energy source, and rely on diesel, kerosene, and candles for lighting. Many of them live in remote rural communities. The Political Constitution of Bolivia establishes that access to electricity is a citizen’s right, and the country aims to be fully electrified by 2025. To …

BR14: Findings from the workshop on sustainable energy sources for off-grid communities in Bolivia Read More »

BR13: Smart Villages and resilience to natural disasters

In smart villages, energy access together with other key components of infrastructure can accelerate the development of education and healthcare services, provision of clean water and sanitation, availability of nutritious food, and the establishment of productive enterprises. Underpinned by technological advances, such developments provide substantial improvements in well-being and life opportunities, and a choice between …

BR13: Smart Villages and resilience to natural disasters Read More »

WR17: Sustainable energy sources for off-grid rural communities in Bolivia

The Smart Villages Initiative organised a workshop on access to, and use of, renewable energy sources for rural communities in Bolivia on April 28, 2016, in La Paz, Bolivia to facilitate analysis and exchange of experiences of electrification of off-grid rural communities in Bolivia. The workshop brought together representatives of the public sector, international, and regional …

WR17: Sustainable energy sources for off-grid rural communities in Bolivia Read More »

TR5: The Smart Villages Initiative: Interim review of findings

This report summarises the findings and recommendations arising from the engagement activities of the Smart Villages Initiative in East Africa, South and Southeast Asia, and South America over the first 18-month period (October 2014 – March 2016) of the first phase of the initiative. Over that period, workshops and other engagement activities involved over 600 …

TR5: The Smart Villages Initiative: Interim review of findings Read More »

[:en]Open Access Energy[:]

[:en]Co-authored by a science journalist and an energy researcher, WGSI’s OpenAccess Energy Brief is an engaging overview of energy access issues that identifies challenges, knowledge gaps and opportunities. This version incorporates feedback collected by our advisory group who met in October 2015 to evaluate version 1 of the Brief and Summit goals. This version of …

[:en]Open Access Energy[:] Read More »

[:en]Island Energy Infographic[:]

[:en]The Smart Villages Initiative together with its local partner, Kopernik, held a workshop on Bunaken Island, Sulawesi in Indonesia, in November 2015 to discuss off-grid energy systems in remote island communities in Southeast Asia. The workshop focused on the barriers and circumstances of rural energy access that are unique to small island communities, drawing inspiration …

[:en]Island Energy Infographic[:] Read More »

Scroll to Top