Improving energy access and resource use in the developing world

Our research focuses on improving energy access and resource use in lower income countries, and places the interlinked challenges of economic development, climate change and environmental degradation, and social equity at its core.

Based on deep understandings of the political economic contexts in which we work, we work with partners in those countries to identify innovative and appropriate solutions that are tailored to local contexts. Tackling these interconnected challenges will require collective action and our research is therefore both interdisciplinary and trans-sectoral. Through our research, we bring together diverse voices and approaches, as well as academic theories and frameworks that can be used to understand energy and resources in developing countries and develop proposals for positive change. Key to our approach is the creation of equitable and long-term partnerships, and our research is typically carried out in collaboration with diverse stakeholders, including academics and researchers, policy makers, communities and NGOs, private sector, and international organisations. In addition to our international partnerships, we work closely with our colleagues in the UCL Energy Institute, UCL Department of Science, Technology, Engineering and Public Policy (STEaPP), and the cross-faculty UCL Energy & Development Group.

Jump to: Research areas | Research stories | Recent projects | In teaching | Researchers

Research areas

We are researching current and future energy and resource management in the developing world. Our research covers several interconnected areas, including:

Access to modern energy services

Globally, around 675 million people lacked access to electricity in 2021, and 2.4 billion lacked access to clean cooking fuels and technologies. While significant process has been made in delivering access to modern energy services, much remains to be done to ensure that the UN Sustainable Development Goal on energy access is achieved. This research area focuses on identifying sustainable solutions to this global challenge.

Just transitions to sustainable development pathways

Limiting global temperature rise to 1.5°C requires transformations in every aspect of our societies and economies. Just as this brings enormous opportunities, these transformations also pose significant risks, especially to vulnerable and marginalised groups. This research area seeks to embed justice concerns in transition research, planning and implementation.

Natural resource governance

Factory chimneys next to body of water with waste in it

Natural resources such as land, water and minerals are under increasing pressure from over-exploitation and degradation. This research area examines the governance approaches that deliver fair and equitable outcomes for different social groups in lower income countries.

Research stories

Ten years of energy transition and energy access in the global south

Read about the changes and innovations in energy transitions in the global south over the last decade is this article written by Senior Research Associate Xavier Lemaire.

Blog: UCL Institute for Sustainable Resources researchers co-host policy training workshop in Zambia

Read Rebecca Clube's reflections on the recent two-day workshop in Zambia as part of the Climate Compatible Growth (CCG) programme.

Shaping fossil fuel extraction strategies in developing countries in a decarbonizing world – policy brief

This policy brief explores how developing countries need to balance the perceived economic opportunities of their strategy against some of the emerging risks which include the changes in energy markets and technologies, and the priorities of the investment community, in response to the climate challenge.

Smoke Jumpers: working with Nairobi-based artists for alternative outreach

Researchers on the CCG programme studied the impacts of charcoal policies, particularly bans, on charcoal-reliant communities in Kenya. This led to a creative collaboration with Nairobi-based artists who interpreted the dilemmas faced by charcoal producers into a thought-provoking short film. Watch ‘Smoke Jumpers’ by Art and Science Films Afrika on the Invisible dust website.

Recent projects

We work with diverse stakeholders, including governments, communities and NGOs, private sector and international organisations, to develop theoretically and empirically informed solutions tailored to local contexts and needs. In this way our research seeks to foster sustainable development and supports global and local efforts to address social inequities, tackle environmental degradation and reduce economic disparities.

Climate Compatible Growth - The Climate Compatible Growth (CCG) programme is funded by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) to support investment in sustainable energy and transport systems to meet development priorities in the Global South. For more information about this project, please contact Julia Tomei and Rebecca Clube.
Grounded Energy Modelling for equitable development (GEMDev website) - The GEMDev project aims to contribute to inclusive decision making towards dignified housing and habitat by developing tools that can inform better energy planning. Focusing on the nexus between energy, comfort and housing, the project takes the case of Lima and Ahmedabad to better understand the access and use of energy in the day-to-day lives of inhabitants and how these practices change over time. For more information about this project, please contact Julia Tomei.
Energy Democracy and the Politics of Energy Transition in African countries – For more information about this project, please contact Xavier Lemaire
Large Water Projects and Conflicted Territorial Identities in sub-Saharan Africa - The Case of the Development of the Senegal River - For more information about this project, please contact Xavier Lemaire
Greening the Recovery in Ghana and Zambia – For more information about this project, please contact Jim Watson
A natural capital reporting framework for the Brazilian Pantanal – For more information about this project, please contact Alison Fairbrass.

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Improving energy access and resource use in the developing world in teaching

Teaching is a core component of our work; whether taught or research, our students are an integral part of our community. In this, we play a key role in supporting teaching across the Institute for Sustainable Resources (ISR):

Delivery of modules across the taught programmes in the UCL Institute for Sustainable Resources.
Supervision of MSc dissertations across our School's taught programmes.

Economics and Policy of Energy and the Environment MSc

It is vital to understand the energy and resource challenges facing lower income countries and how these manifest in different settings. Our teaching provides students with the opportunity to learn about these challenges and to think through how we can develop tailored solutions that deliver sustainable and equitable development. Students on Economics and Policy of Energy and the Environment MSc can explore explore this in the Energy, Environment and Development in Developing Countries module.

Examples of past dissertations in this area include:

'Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) in energy planning in Kenya: status quo and action points for improvement.'
'How will South Africa’s energy security change as it transitions to a low carbon electricity system?'
'Paving the way for achieving climate resilience: assessing synergies and trade-offs between national development and SDG7 (energy) and SDG13 (climate) in Indonesia.'

Sustainable Resources: Economics, Policy and Transitions MSc

Our teaching aims to provide students with an understanding of the outcomes of resource access, use and management for different social groups in lower income countries. We adopt an interdisciplinary approach, that draws on diverse case studies to illustrate how resource use manifests in different settings. Students on Sustainable Resources: Economics, Policy and Transitions MSc can explore this in the Resource Governance in the Global South module.

Examples of past dissertations in this area:

'Can resource extraction be consistent with a ‘just’ transition? Exploring evidence from lithium mining in Antofagasta, Chile.'
'Climate finance in Mato Grosso, Brazil: a collaborative approach to reducing deforestation.'
'How do Chinese oil companies frame their future? Defining the most sustainable perspective.'

Doctoral research (PhD)

Our PhD students are an essential part of our community, actively engaging in teaching and research activities. Students are provided with regular opportunities to present their research and participate in the activities undertaken in this, and other, research themes at the ISR. In this way, they enrich our academic environment and foster meaningful collaboration.

Doctoral research relating to Improving energy access and resource use in the developing world:

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Researchers

Julia Tomei
Associate Professor
j.tomei@ucl.ac.uk

Oliver Broad
Senior Research Fellow
o.broad@ucl.ac.uk

Nick Hughes
Associate Professor
nicholas.hughes@ucl.ac.uk

Xavier Lemaire
Senior Research Associate
x.lemaire@ucl.ac.uk

Jim Watson
Director
j.watson@ucl.ac.uk

Rebecca Clube
Research Fellow
r.clube@ucl.ac.uk

Janina Fuchs
Research Assistant
j.fuchs@ucl.ac.uk

Jen Cronin
Researcher
jennifer.cronin.15@ucl.ac.uk

Alison Fairbrass
Research Associate
alison.fairbrass.10@ucl.ac.uk

Harsh Jatkar
Researcher
h.jatkar@ucl.ac.uk