INNOVATIVE APPROACHES TO AFFORDABLE CLEAN ENERGY FOR REMOTE REGIONS: A COMPREHENSIVE ANALYSIS

Abstract

The study explored the contemporary approaches to the growing challenge of energy poverty in remote areas around the world. There are roughly 789 million people without any access to electricity (IEA, 2023), mainly in remote areas of developing countries. The author reviewed innovative technologies, financing mechanisms, policy frameworks, and actual deployment of approaches that provide affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy. The author analyzed cases from different geographic locations, some that intersect the developed and developing world, and reviewed emerging technologies to show an overarch view of overcoming barriers to energy access. The study highlighted examples of successful deployments of decentralized renewable energy systems, hybrid microgrids, advanced energy storage solutions, and community energy models with practical policy recommendations and financing mechanisms toward achieving universal energy access consistent with SDG 7.