In the course of the industrialization of the global North, a one-sided centralized energy system has emerged. The resulting inequalities have a negative impact on the global South. The expansion of the grid is often associated with high investment costs for people in developing countries. Due to the centralized energy system and the poor infrastructure, people in more remote regions often have no access to energy. In addition, opportunities to operate economically, as well as clean cooking facilities or after-dark activities, are severely limited. Climate change further exacerbates these global social inequalities.
Renewable energies as a solution
Renewable energies can make an important contribution to reversing the trend of global inequalities, because renewable energy plants do not require a central energy system. The necessary resources occur worldwide and can supply everyone with stable energy. Bread for the world and World Future Council have been cooperating for several years in the project Multi-Actor partnerships for 100% Renewable Energy in the Global South. Together with their local partners, they implement energy projects and place the just energy transition on the agenda as a development goal in their political work. Episode 6 is about these two projects:
One possibility of the decentralized energy system are the Solar Home Systems (SHS) in Bangladesh.
Dipal Barua has set up the SHS financing model, making it more attractive. The financing model has reduced the cost of SHS comparatively to the monthly cost of kerosene. The myth that renewable energy systems are too expensive or too high-tech for people in developing countries has been dispelled.
Nepal is one of the countries with the highest consumption of biomass in the world. Most of it is used for cooking. Unclean cooking facilities are one reason for the polluted indoor air in houses and apartments. Dipesh Joshi explains in the podcast how renewable energies can be electrical cooking represent a solution to the problem: A health hazard during cooking, which particularly affects lung diseases in women, has been significantly reduced. In addition, everyday life is made much easier, as constant firewood collection can be dispensed with.
Listen now to the whole interview in the current episode 'Current Up'
