Enhancement of sustainable energy and its sustainable development impacts: An analytical perspective

Abstract

Access to modern energy features prominently in current development agendas that particularly pertain to underdeveloped communities, and in scientific work. Specifically, this relates to sustainable development (SD) concerns, where holistic attention is sought for economic growth, environmental soundness and social progress. There is, however, much more emphasis on energy access than in SD impacts that the energy is designed to achieve. As a result, much is done to make the energy available, but there is little manifestation of resultant SD impacts. In this article, it is therefore argued that a rethinking of modern or sustainable energy access is needed, especially in a community-based development sense. Consequently, in the research work an analytical framework is constructed to guide a new vision and strategies for SD-focused modern energy.