Solar Power: Can it relieve the plight of communities living in poverty?

jean jean
jean jean
Nov 1 · 4 min read

The UNDP-WHO estimates that 1.5 billion people in developing countries still do not have access to electricity. [1] Access to even a small amount of electricity can help boost their socioeconomic development. Solar power can bring improvements in agricultural productivity, health, communications, education and access to clean water.

Today, most inhabitants of rural areas in developing countries cannot afford the high cost of electricity. This is because electric companies have little incentive to expand infrastructure to their electric grids in remote areas and as a result the residents can expect to pay up to five times the cost per kilowatt hour compared to developed areas. This forces residents to use kerosene, diesel, candles and other antiquated technologies to meet their needs. [2]

These sources generate a high volume of pollutants resulting in poor air quality in homes and neighbourhoods that can lead to respiratory ailments and even early deaths. It is estimated that every year, more than four million people are killed by indoor air pollution, more than AIDS and malaria combined. [6] Solar energy can help improve air quality and can reduces instances of diseases related to breathing harmful pollutants. Thus, it is safe to say that developing clean energy is, now, a matter of life and death.

By giving people access to electricity, information and education, we can attempt to balance the existential inequality. Simon Bransfield-Garth, the CEO of Azuri has estimated that “a child spends an extra [two] hours per day doing homework if he has electricity”. [3] According to the REN 21 report, renewable energy projects, including solar energy, can directly contribute to poverty alleviation by providing the energy needed for creating businesses and jobs, turning locally available resources into productive economic assets. [4]

South Sudan, the least electrified country, has endured constant conflict and disease outbreak for more than four years. UNICEF began immunizing South Sudanese who previously had no access to electricity by distributing solar-powered refrigerators that could maintain vaccines. [5] Approximately 1.7 million children were vaccinated for measles according to UNICEF.

The lives of villagers in Malawi is impacted in all aspects due to the scarcity of clean drinking water. 13-year-old Lucy Chalire told UNICEF “I had diarrhea so many times. I would stay at home for around two weeks until I got better. I missed a lot of lessons, but I always tried to catch up by copying notes from my friends.” Solar-powered water pumps were installed in Chalire’s village, which allowed people to access clean water that hand-powered pumps could not reach. Furthermore, this solution provides water during the drought season which helps farmers increase their crop yield. [5] Malawi is taking steps towards a sustainable future by using solar power to eliminate poverty.

However, we must remind ourselves that current costs of the installation of solar power technologies are too high for the poverty-stricken population. Justin Guay, associate director of Sierra Club’s International Climate Program, believes that the World Bank, despite its goal of universal electrification by 2030, is not investing enough. He says “Rather than measuring services provided and new access to energy for poor populations, they look at the supply of energy created and kilometers of energy transmission lines built. Just because you build a coal plant doesn’t mean that access lines are extended to poor people and that they can service their needs and repair the grid lines — or that communities can afford the power.” [7]

It is, therefore, imperative that governments and international communities invest more towards these small energy projects. Given that there is a will, poor communities throughout the world can benefit from the lower costs and emissions of renewable energy.

References:

[1] Legros, G. et al. The energy access situation in developing countries. UNDP-WHO (2009)

[2] “How Communities Living in Poverty Can Benefit From Renewable Energy.” PlanetWatch. Accessed October 31, 2019. https://earthmaven.io/planetwatch/humanity-in-the-anthropocene/how-communities-living-in-poverty-can-benefit-from-renewable-energy-lgUmXV5u9k6aE3hQGSMg4Q/.

[3] Pierce, et al. “Pierce Nahigyan.” HuffPost, https://www.huffpost.com/author/pnahigyan-942.

[4] Kusch-Brandt, and Sigrid. “Urban Renewable Energy on the Upswing: A Spotlight on Renewable Energy in Cities in REN21’s ‘Renewables 2019 Global Status Report.’” MDPI, Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute, 2 Aug. 2019, https://doi.org/10.3390/resources8030139.

[5] Project, Borgen. “Solar Power to Help Eliminate Poverty in Developing Countries.” The Borgen Project, Borgen Project Https://Borgenproject.org/Wp-Content/Uploads/The_Borgen_Project_Logo_small.Jpg, 31 July 2018, https://borgenproject.org/solar-power-to-help-eliminate-poverty/.

[6] Project, Borgen. “Solar Power a Key Piece in the Fight Against Poverty.” The Borgen Project, Borgen Project Https://Borgenproject.org/Wp-Content/Uploads/The_Borgen_Project_Logo_small.Jpg, 7 Dec. 2017, https://borgenproject.org/solar-power-in-the-fight-against-poverty/.

[7] Wong, Kristine. “Why Solar Energy Is the Key to Solving Global Poverty.” TakePart, 19 June 2014, http://www.takepart.com/article/2014/06/18/how-solar-energy-can-solve-global-poverty.

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