Affordable innovation facilitating renewable energy deployment: Two ‘smart’ energy poverty alleviation case examples

Abstract

This paper considers one aspect of UN SustainableDevelopment Goal SDG7 - the intention to \textquotesingle leave no-onebehind\textquotesingle{} in the transition to renewable energy. Thetarget beneficiaries have access to affordable electricity restricted insome way. Two examples of affordable innovation based on artificialintelligence-driven microgrid technology serving clients in developingand developed economies are presented. These initiatives provide directeconomic, environmental and social benefits, but also add to the quantumof renewable energy generated in their local areas. A multiplicity ofcommunity, enterprise and government actors cooperate in establishingand operating the particular programs described, and community benefitsextend beyond simple economic outcomes, e.g., building social capitaland trust in the technology. A model characterizing a broader view ofSDG 7 realization dynamics is presented. This includes theidentification of four kinds of learning space and the notion of tippingpoints, which may be topics for further research.