Robyn Meeks reviews literature on electricity infrastructure
The VoxDevLit summarizes research on the impacts of electricity infrastructure and identifies evidence that can inform electrification strategies.
Expanding electricity access is a critical development priority, with initiatives like Mission 300 Africa aiming to connect 300 million people by 2030 and the Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana aiming to attain 100% rural electrification in India. Despite substantial investments in infrastructure, electrification efforts face persistent challenges, including low cost recovery, unreliable and poor quality electricity supply, and uncertain demand patterns.
The VoxDevLit "Electricity Infrastructure" synthesizes existing research on electricity infrastructure, reveals key evidence gaps, and outlines policy-relevant research directions that would help to inform future investments in electricity access.
Robyn Meeks, Mark and Lynne Florian Assistant Professor of Public Policy and affiliate of the Duke Center for International Development Center, served as the review's senior editor.
In the review, Meeks and co-editor Meera Mahadevan highlight the multidimensional nature of electricity infrastructure and how, despite international focus on expanding electricity access, this is only one piece of a broader, interconnected system. Infrastructure expansion and upkeep will be increasingly important to policy conversations.