Dartmouth Events

New Energy: Stimulating Electricity Demand in Sub-Saharan Africa

June Lukuyu, PhD student at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, presents recent research as part of the online New Energy series.

Wednesday, April 27, 2022
12:00pm – 1:00pm
Online
Intended Audience(s): Public
Categories: Lectures & Seminars
Registration required.

June Lukuyu, PhD student at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, gives a talk, "Power to Thrive: Stimulating Electricity Demand to Enhance Sustainable Human Development in Sub-Saharan Africa," as part of the New Energy series.

About the talk: 

While the journey to a sustainable energy future is being undertaken by most, if not all nations, there does not exist a one-size-fits-all approach to achieving this goal. For instance, currently, the average per capita electricity consumption in sub-Saharan Africa is just 488 kilowatt-hours, the equivalent of powering a 50-watt light bulb continuously for a year. Contrary to the energy efficiency zeitgeist in industrialized regions, low-income regions need to increase their electricity consumption density for income-generating purposes to grow their economies and for consumers to realize the full benefits of electrification. 

An inclusive and just energy transition therefore requires that we simultaneously address the issues of energy poverty, energy security, and climate change. This talk presents findings from a set of studies that evaluate strategies that are aimed at stimulating electricity demand in East Africa in three key domains: off-grid electricity supply, transportation, and agriculture, to drive sustainable human development as well as strengthen the business models of electricity access platforms.

Learn more, register, and view past New Energy talks here

New Energy: Conversations with Early-Career Energy Researchers is an online series featuring graduate, post-doctoral, and other early-career researchers sharing their discoveries and perspectives on energy-related topics. From policy to analysis to emerging research, this bi-weekly series will give anyone interested in energy the opportunity to learn from the rising stars in the field. 

For more information, contact:
Irving Institute for Energy and Society

Events are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted.