This open access book presents a comprehensive framework for planning off-grid energy access as a driver of local development and just energy transitions. It argues that sustainable electrification cannot be achieved through technical optimisation alone: energy services must be reliable, affordable, context-sensitive, and embedded in the social, institutional, economic, and environmental realities of the communities they are intended to serve. At the centre of the volume is the Comprehensive Energy Solution Planning (CESP) framework, an evidence-based and iterative approach that integrates engineering methods with social-science perspectives. The book guides readers across the full planning cycle: policy and context analysis, identification of local needs and priorities, renewable resource and demand assessment, technical system design, business model formulation, complementary activities for long-term sustainability, and impact evaluation. The volume combines conceptual foundations with practical guidance. Dedicated chapters examine methods and tools for geospatial planning, photovoltaic resource assessment, digital energy-planning platforms, system modelling, business models, and impact evaluation. Applied case studies from international organisations, research institutions, private developers, NGOs, and field practitioners show how energy access interventions unfold under real-world constraints, including affordability, regulation, institutional capacity, data gaps, operational risk, and community ownership. Bringing together researchers and practitioners, this book is intended for energy planners, policymakers, funders, project developers, NGOs, and scholars seeking robust interdisciplinary guidance for transforming energy access into durable, equitable, and development-oriented outcomes.
This volume was developed within the framework of the Horizon 2020 LEAP-RE (Long-Term Joint EU–AU Research and Innovation Partnership on Renewable Energy) project and represents a collaborative outcome of its international community of researchers and practitioners.
About the Author :
Emanuela Colombo is a Full Professor at the Department of Energy at Politecnico di Milano, where she teaches "Engineering for Cooperation and Development" and "Thermoeconomics and Energy Modelling." She holds a PhD in Energetics and an MSc in Nuclear Engineering. She served as Rector's Delegate for Cooperation and Development (2005-2022) and is now Delegate for Science Diplomacy, Cooperation and Development. Since 2012 she has chaired the UNESCO Chair in Energy for Sustainable Development. Her work focuses on the Energy-Environment-Development nexus, sustainable energy access, and integrated planning. She has coordinated multiple international projects across Africa and the Middle East, including initiatives on energy access, the water-energy-food nexus, and capacity building. She contributes to EU-AU cooperation through LEAP-RE and represents Italy in international policy bodies. She has over 200 publications (H-index 32) and co-authored Renewable Energy for Unleashing Sustainable Development.
Riccardo Mereu is an Associate Professor at the Department of Energy at Politecnico di Milano and Co-holder of the UNESCO Chair in Energy for Sustainable Development. He teaches "Innovative Technologies for Energy" and "Sustainable Development." His research focuses on numerical modeling of energy systems and sustainable technologies, especially for developing countries. Since 2010 he has worked on numerous international projects with academia, NGOs, and industry, often as task leader or coordinator. Within LEAP-RE he co-led SETADiSMA on smart mini-grids in Africa. He is also Vice-President of Engineers Without Borders - Milan, leading energy-related initiatives. He has authored over 100 scientific publications (H-index 20).
Nicolò Stevanato is Assistant Professor at the Department of Energy at Politecnico di Milano, where he teaches Energy Planning. He holds BSc, MSc, and PhD degrees in Energy Engineering and Energy and Nuclear Science. His research focuses on energy system modeling for policy support and long-term planning in emerging economies, particularly electricity access in rural areas. He works on demand characterization, off-grid system design, and national decarbonization strategies using optimization and bottom-up modeling. He has contributed to EU Horizon projects and initiatives in Africa and Latin America. An IDEA League Fellow, he has been a visiting researcher at TU Delft and Chalmers. He has over 30 publications (H-index 9).
