Our Publications
The Last Nautical Mile
This policy paper introduces the concept of the “last nautical mile” to
reframe energy access challenges in the Pacific, highlighting the unique
logistical and planning complexities posed by oceanic distances and island
geographies. The report advocates for a whole-of-island approach to energy planning—one that integrates energy systems with local economies, infrastructure, and community needs.
State of Repair in the Off-grid Solar Sector
Since the early 2000s, more than 375 million solar energy kits have been distributed to off-grid populations around the world, extending lights to more than half a billion people. However, the question of what happens to these products when they break down looms large.
In this report, we draw on insights from a cross-sector survey to highlight the current dynamics around the repair of these products, identify key challenges and offer recommendations to improve the sustainability of off-grid solar products.
Off-grid Solar Repair in Africa
Since 2010, an estimated 150 million solar energy kits (SEKs) have been distributed throughout Africa, revolutionising electricity access for millions of off-grid and rural households. However, the promise of this solar boom is hampered by estimates that nearly 75% of these SEKs have likely ceased functioning.
This report explores the potential for SEK repair in Africa by drawing on valuable lessons learned and insights from SolarAid’s Solar Saver: second-generation lights project in Zambia.
Journal Articles
Munro, P. G., Samarakoon, S., Hansen, U. E., Kearnes, M., Bruce, A., Cross, J., Walker, S., Zalengera, C. (2022). Towards a repair research agenda for off-grid solar
e-waste in the Global South. Nature Energy, 8, 1-6. doi:10.1038/s41560-022-01103-9
Munro, P. G., Samarakoon, S., Kearnes, M., & Paisley, C. (2023). The right to repairable energy: A political ecology off-grid solar repair in Zambia. Political Geography, 106.
doi:10.1016/j.polgeo.2023.102962
Samarakoon. S., Munro. P.G., Kearnes.M. & Zalengera. C. (2022). The afterlives of off-grid solar: The dynamics of repair and e-waste in Malawi. Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions. 42, 317-330.