Social Equity and Renewable Energy Access in Developing Countries

Abstract

The need for energy access is still a major challenge in developing countries, where millions do not have access to reliable and affordable power. Notably, this inequality has far-reaching implications, particularly for rural and marginalised communities, and only exacerbates socio-economic disparities while stifling opportunities for sustainable development. Renewable energy is a game-changing solution, providing local, clean, and scalable replacements for conventional fossil fuel systems. The paper focuses on linking renewable energy and social equity by examining the role of off-grid solar systems, mini-grids and decentralized energy technologies to connect energy bridges. What are the barriers for equitable acceptance of energy, and how can we integrate strategies for equity in renewable energy interventions; these constitute the key objectives of our study. The results show that decentralized renewable solutions have led to improved energy access rates by over 80%, lowered the cost of household energy bills by more than 30%, and reduced annual greenhouse gas emissions by 1,000 metric tons in beneficiary regions. And inclusive strategies, like participatory planning and targeted subsidies, improved gender equity as well, with women making up 60% of energy decision-makers in some projects. Despite these assets, ongoing challenges such as high installation costs and policy gaps emphasize the need for enhanced international cooperation and funding. The study recommends that renewable energy transitions be inclusive, sustainable, and transformative, and concludes with robust recommendations to do so: inclusion of alley equity-oriented policies in regulatory frameworks, a strengthened regulatory framework for all future renewable energy projects, and addressing the structural inequalities that exist at the community level through community engagement and participation.