皇家华人

UCL鈥檚 Energy & Development Group is working in rural Colombia to ensure new electricity infrastructure meets community energy needs.

In Colombia, 98% of the population now have access to electricity. But providing access to the remaining 2%听鈥撎�1.4 million people, living mainly in poor rural areas 鈥� remains a challenge.听

鈥淧eople living in Choc贸听lack electricity, but they also often lack clean drinking water and adequate sanitation,鈥� explains听Dr听Julia听Tomei听(UCL Institute for Sustainable Resources).听

Since 2015, Dr Tomei and colleagues听have been working with universities in Colombia to understand the energy opportunities and challenges for communities听living 鈥榦ff-grid鈥櫶齣n Choc贸, a coastal region.听听

Typically,听demand for electricity is low听in these communities,听which makes it difficult to attract private-sector investment.听

鈥�鈥淥utdated regulations and energy markets are hindering efforts to introduce renewables.鈥澨�

鈥淥ur research听highlights that electrification听also听offers opportunities听to generate income, such as cold storage for听agricultural and fishing products.听However, poor infrastructure听and听limited resources听hamper听efforts听and alone,听they听are not sufficient,鈥澨齟xplains听Dr听Tomei,听founder and member听of UCL鈥檚 Energy听&听Development Group.听听

The听group acts as an听interdisciplinary hub for research that connects energy and sustainable development and fosters collaboration between researchers, practitioners and local stakeholders听across eight themes from听economics and finance to energy demand and infrastructure.听

The Group鈥檚 studies show听that if electricity is to provide the multiple development benefits on offer,听it听needs听to听be delivered听as part of wider development programmes that place听the needs of local听communities听at the centre.听

鈥淎nd it needs to be clean energy,鈥澨鼶r听Tomei says.听鈥淎t present,听most off-grid electricity听comes from听diesel generators. Outdated regulations and energy markets听are hindering efforts听to introduce renewables.鈥澨�

Reaching full electrification in Colombia is within听sight, but听requires solutions that meet people鈥檚 needs without damaging local and global environments.听听

鈥淥ur听interdisciplinary听and collaborative听research is providing vital evidence that such solutions exist听in Colombia听and elsewhere 鈥撎齛nd with that a means to contribute to sustainable development,鈥� Dr Tomei听asserts.听