Curbing Energy Poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Multi-Objective Optimization Approach for Achieving Universal Access

This book emphasizes the critical need for a multi-dimensional approach to tackling energy poverty, advocating for an integrated strategy that addresses three interconnected dimensions: availability, accessibility, and affordability. It introduces a robust Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) framework based on a dynamic model that links off-grid energy supply to rural households primarily engaged in crop farming as a key economic activity. The framework leverages the Non-Dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II (NDSGA-II), a powerful multi-objective optimization technique, to balance the trade-offs between costs and revenues, ensuring the sustainable delivery of energy services to rural communities. By underscoring the interplay between availability, accessibility, and affordability, the approach reveals that while costs are primarily associated with securing energy availability, revenues are essential for enhancing both accessibility and affordability. This comprehensive and holistic strategy offers an innovative solution to the multifaceted challenges of energy poverty in rural areas, ensuring long-term sustainability and economic viability.