Does Energy Access Increase Resilience Against COVID-19?

The research compares 54 communities that received solar PV powered mini grids with 54 similar communities without mini-grids

From:: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Published: 31 January 2022

Country:: Sierra Leone
Document Type:: Working Paper
Theme:: Health, Infrastructure
Authors:: Langbeen, L.

Abstract

The research compares 54 communities that received solar PV powered mini grids under a FCDO / UNOPS programme with 54 similar communities without mini-grids. The aim was to assess the economic impact of the provision of electricity in these circumstances. With the onset of the COVID pandemic the research also looked at whether access to electricity improved communities’ resilience against the wider impacts of the virus. This is an interim report. Given the mini grids were only operationalised in 2020 research on the possible economic impacts resulting from access to them is expected to continue through 2022.

This research is part of the Energy and Economic Growth (EGG) Programme

Citation

Laura Langbeen, Joseph Levine, Madison Levine, Niccoló Meriggi, A. Mushfiq Mobarak, Vasudha Ramakrishna , Lennart Sattlegger , Maarten Voors (2022) Does Energy Access Increase Resilience Against COVID-19?. Energy and Economic Growth (EGG) Programme Working Paper