[1] Andrea Cabanero et al., Mini-Grids for the Sustainable Electrification of Rural Areas in Sub-Saharan Africa: Assessing the Potential of KeyMaker Models, 2.

Certain approaches exist as frameworks but are suited better as supporting frameworks for particular scenarios. These frameworks are not as flexible as the ones that have already been discussed but are in fact tied to only one type of purpose or application.

Regulatory Indicators for Sustainable Energy

One model that utilizes indicators is the Regulatory Indicators for Sustainable Energy (RISE) model. It is a set of indicators comparing the policy and regulatory frameworks to support the achievement of sustainable energy goals on universal access to clean and modern energy. It is a tool for policy makers to compare national policy frameworks for sustainable energy as they seek to attract investment from the private sector.

The Multi-Tier Framework

The Multi-Tier Framework (MTF) for measuring energy access was first introduced by the World Bank’s Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP) in the 2013 Global Tracking Framework (GTF) report together with other organisations and programs.

MTF identifies three areas it is applicable to: one for assessing household access to energy, another for assessing the access to energy for productive engagement and lastly, a category for assessing the access to energy for community facilities. Each of these are further divided into energy applications specific to their categories. For household energy access, this is further divided into access to electricity, cooking solutions and space heating.

[1] Energy Sector Management Assistance Program, Beyond Connections: Energy Access Redefined, 26-28.

Using these prevalent concepts, frameworks which put prime on sustainability are prioritized and will be utilized to serve as guides for organizing systems into regulated structures that developers can use to build programs such as those for expanding access to household electricity. Frameworks such as the UN Global Compact for Sustainable Energy, Sustainable Energy Access Planning, Derisking Renewable Energy Investment, Regulatory Indicators for Sustainable Energy and the Multi-Tier Framework are fundamental to the scope of this report.

UN Global Compact for Sustainable Energy Framework

The United Nations (UN) with its partners developed the UN Global Compact for Sustainable Energy framework which identifies and shapes the role of businesses in achieving sustainability targets centered on energy development by 2030. The 2012 UN General Assembly outlined these targets in the “Sustainability For All (SE4ALL)” initiative, and they are universal access to modern energy services, improving energy efficiency and increasing the utilization of renewable resources.

Sustainable Energy Access Planning Framework

Developed by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) through their Energy for All Initiative which seeks to maximize access to energy by providing an improved framework and assessment basis to shape responses and build better solutions, the sustainable energy access planning (SEAP) framework has features that are distinct from traditional electricity and energy planning frameworks. The identification of cost-effective and sustainable resource and technology options for providing universal access to basic energy services as well as the assessment of the affordability of cleaner-energy service options to energy-poor households are among its main objectives.

This framework focuses on social inclusiveness and takes into account the ability of even the poorest households in gaining access to electricity and other cleaner forms of energy to meet their basic energy needs for lighting, cooking and heating. It also considers the acceptable minimum level of basic energy services to the energy poor and uses tools to assess the energy demand of non-poor households.

Derisking Renewable Energy Investment Framework

The Derisking Renewable Energy Investment (DREI) framework aims to assist policymakers in developing countries to cost-effectively promote investment in renewable energy by utilizing publicly-available methodologies, financial tools, models and resources.

The DREI framework was launched in 2013 by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and was originally focused on utility-scale renewable energy. Recently it has taken on an energy access expansive nature by extending to on-grid rooftop PV, off-grid solar home systems and off-grid solar mini-grids. The overall aim of the framework is to cost-effectively achieve a risk-return profile that encourages private sector investment.[2]

[1] G20 2016 China, Enhancing Energy Access in Asia and the Pacific: Key Challenges and G20 Voluntary Collaboration Action Plan, http://www.g20.utoronto.ca/2016/enhancing-energy-access-in-asia-and-pacific.pdf.
[2] UNDP, Derisking Renewable Energy Investment: Off-Grid Electrification, 27.