As the population and economies of Sub Saharan Africa continue to grow, the demand for modern energy will correspondingly increase. The current energy policy and limited overall access rate is not prepared for this massive demand increases and presents a major hindrance to country growth potential. This thesis focuses on the countries in East Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia), and compares their current energy policies and renewable energy potential within a historical context of the United States rural electrification of 1930s. It is clear that some progress has been made in plans to address the energy access concerns but there is still some delay in diversifying the energy mix with renewable sources and advancing the use of mini-grids. The use of mini-grids will provide a sustainable solution to the energy crisis by increasing electricity reliability and providing power to areas too remote for grid connection.
","abstract_html":"<p>As the population and economies of Sub Saharan Africa continue to grow, the demand for modern energy will correspondingly increase. The current energy policy and limited overall access rate is not prepared for this massive demand increases and presents a major hindrance to country growth potential. This thesis focuses on the countries in East Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia), and compares their current energy policies and renewable energy potential within a historical context of the United States rural electrification of 1930s. It is clear that some progress has been made in plans to address the energy access concerns but there is still some delay in diversifying the energy mix with renewable sources and advancing the use of mini-grids. The use of mini-grids will provide a sustainable solution to the energy crisis by increasing electricity reliability and providing power to areas too remote for grid connection.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Remson, John"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Master of International Affairs (M.I.A.)","degree_level":"Thesis","degree_discipline":"International Relations","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Jacqueline Braveboy-Wagner"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2015,"date_issued":"2015-01-01T08:00:00Z","date_published":"2015-01-01T08:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T01:56:52Z","subjects":["Rural Development","Energy","East Africa","Political Science"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://academicworks.cuny.edu/cc_etds_theses/359","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Jacqueline Braveboy-Wagner"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Remson, John"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["International Relations"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of International Affairs (M.I.A.)"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Rural Development","Energy","East Africa","Political Science"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://academicworks.cuny.edu/cc_etds_theses/359"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["As the population and economies of Sub Saharan Africa continue to grow, the demand for modern energy will correspondingly increase. The current energy policy and limited overall access rate is not prepared for this massive demand increases and presents a major hindrance to country growth potential. This thesis focuses on the countries in East Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia), and compares their current energy policies and renewable energy potential within a historical context of the United States rural electrification of 1930s. It is clear that some progress has been made in plans to address the energy access concerns but there is still some delay in diversifying the energy mix with renewable sources and advancing the use of mini-grids. The use of mini-grids will provide a sustainable solution to the energy crisis by increasing electricity reliability and providing power to areas too remote for grid connection.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Rural Energy Development: Are Mini-grids the solution to East Africa's Energy Crisis"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Jacqueline Braveboy-Wagner"],"dc:creator":["Remson, John"],"dc:description.abstract":["As the population and economies of Sub Saharan Africa continue to grow, the demand for modern energy will correspondingly increase. The current energy policy and limited overall access rate is not prepared for this massive demand increases and presents a major hindrance to country growth potential. This thesis focuses on the countries in East Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia), and compares their current energy policies and renewable energy potential within a historical context of the United States rural electrification of 1930s. It is clear that some progress has been made in plans to address the energy access concerns but there is still some delay in diversifying the energy mix with renewable sources and advancing the use of mini-grids. The use of mini-grids will provide a sustainable solution to the energy crisis by increasing electricity reliability and providing power to areas too remote for grid connection.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://academicworks.cuny.edu/cc_etds_theses/359"],"dc:subject":["Rural Development","Energy","East Africa","Political Science"],"dc:title":["Rural Energy Development: Are Mini-grids the solution to East Africa's Energy Crisis"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["International Relations"],"thesis:degree_level":["Thesis"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of International Affairs (M.I.A.)"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T01:56:52Z"}