Remote areas of the World: methodology for development through the implementation of renewable energy facilities

Climate change and the unpredictable fluctuations in oil prices have been key drivers for governments to prioritize the development of renewable energy sources. This shift towards sustainable energy has been prompted by concerns over the environmental impact of fossil fuels and the economic risks associated with their price volatility. As a result, various policies have been implemented over the past two decades to incentivize the growth of renewable energy and reduce dependence on traditional sources. In a world characterized by a constant increase in energy use, one of the biggest challenges is to meet this demand while accomplishing sustainable goals. This aspect is particularly noticeable in developing countries, whose energy demand is rising quickly but whose resources to guarantee a steady supply of electricity are frequently lacking. The positive impact of electricity access on communities is proven by its beneficial effects on education, health, safety, and the economy. Increasing the electrification rate, allows indeed to power schools, hospitals, businesses, homes and to ensure wider access to clean water and services. This work aims to address the issue of access to clean energies in third world countries with the development of a multilateral methodology that takes into account not only the technical but also the economic and the social aspects. In fact, in many third world countries, technical solutions alone are not sufficient to address the issue of energy supply. Economic and social factors also play a critical role in determining whether or not people have access to clean energies. By considering these factors, the methodology developed in this work can help identify and address barriers to energy access and create more effective and sustainable solutions for its improvement. The technical aspect considers the feasibility of various renewable energy sources and their suitability to the local conditions. The economic aspect explores the affordability and cost-effectiveness of these sources. The social aspect takes into account the cultural and social practices of the local communities to ensure the energy solutions are acceptable and accessible to all. All these matters are dealt with in the development of some case studies tailored on the needs of local populations in two countries, Uganda and Malawi. As a way to better understand the social context, and thus the feasibility of the projects, some interviews were conducted with local stakeholders. This step was extremely useful in giving the work a tie to reality and understanding the actual needs of local populations in the phase of development of the case studies. The novelty introduced by this thesis is a new approach to renewable energy projects in developing countries by providing a critical and organic review of previous works aiming to evaluate which economic strategies are the most effective basing on the specific technical requirements. This approach provides a comprehensive and nuanced understanding of renewable energy projects in developing countries, which can help inform policymakers, investors, and other stakeholders in making informed decisions about these projects. Through a rigorous analysis of existing literature, the thesis sheds new light on the factors that influence the success of renewable energy projects in developing countries, and provides valuable insights for future research and development in this field.