Global South
Solar Under Storm Part II: Designing Hurricane-Resilient PV Systems
The last three years have seen major hurricanes wreak havoc on island nations. Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, Maria, and Dorian caused catastrophic damage to homes, infrastructure, and economies throughout the Caribbean basin. At the same time, the use of solar photovoltaic (PV) power is increasing on Caribbean islands—helping reduce costs and…
Lessons from Malawi: Five Steps for Planning Sustainable Energy Investments
Whole-system energy investment planning shows how countries like Malawi can reach Sustainable Energy for All goals at a lower cost, using abundant renewable resources. RMI’s work in Malawi applies a few core principles to demonstrate US$500 million in savings as the country increases electricity generation and connects households to achieve…
Achievements and Challenges of Uganda’s Power Sector
In 2005, Uganda descended into a power crisis that changed energy planning mindsets forever. A sharp decline in hydropower generation output, partly blamed on prolonged droughts that affected water levels in Lake Victoria along with delayed capacity additions, meant that electricity demand was double the available supply. This…
An Efficiency Opportunity at the Heart of Ethiopia’s Growth and Transformation
Implementing a set of simple efficiency regulations and programs today can help Ethiopia grow sustainably. By 2030, savings could be larger than the country’s total energy demand in 2014. A Power Sector in Transition Ethiopia’s economic development is often cited as a success story—with consistent growth of over 10 percent…
Puerto Rico’s Electricity System at a Crossroads
Puerto Rico’s electric system is at a crucial inflection point, with an opportunity to pivot from years of hardship—high energy costs, utility bankruptcy, the largest blackout in US history, and heavy pollution from a system 98 percent powered by fossil fuels—to a new vision that is clean, reliable, and resilient.