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Beyond Access: A Critical Review of Humanitarian Energy Failures and the Limitations of SDG 7

Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG 7) seeks to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all. Energy plays a fundamental role in supporting socioeconomic well-being. Consequently, improving energy access has become a global priority, particularly in regions experiencing poverty, instability, and limited infrastructure. The pursuit of SDG 7 extends beyond increasing electricity access and encompasses the broader objective of promoting sustainable and inclusive development through energy systems. One area that has gained increasing attention within the SDG 7 agenda is humanitarian energy. Humanitarian energy refers to the provision and management of energy services in humanitarian crises. These crises include conflicts, natural disasters, displacement, and prolonged emergencies. Humanitarian stakeholders and development agencies have implemented various interventions to improve energy access among vulnerable populations. These efforts include the deployment of renewable energy technologies, clean cooking solutions, and other initiatives intended to support humanitarian operations in affected communities. The growing emphasis on humanitarian energy reflects the recognition that energy is essential for maintaining living conditions during crises. Reliable energy services enable the delivery of important utilities and livelihood opportunities. As a result, significant investments and policy initiatives have been directed toward expanding energy access in humanitarian and development settings over the past decade.

Despite these efforts, energy-related challenges persist in many humanitarian initiatives. Limited access to reliable energy services, infrastructure constraints, financial barriers, governance issues, and operational difficulties remain common obstacles to achieving sustainable outcomes. Similar challenges have also been observed in broader energy access initiatives outside humanitarian settings. For example, renewable energy interventions implemented to improve rural electrification have encountered various difficulties. These difficulties include issues related to system reliability, maintenance, affordability, and long-term operation. These recurring issues suggest that energy access interventions often face complex challenges that extend beyond the deployment of technology alone.

These difficulties include issues related to system reliability, maintenance, affordability, and long-term operation. The Diverse factors influencing energy access and sustainability are still not fully understood. Economic conditions, institutional arrangements, technical capacity, social acceptance, policy frameworks, and governance structures can all influence the success of energy initiatives. Furthermore, political conditions and broader socioeconomic environments often shape how energy systems are used by affected populations. Recent studies have emphasized the importance of considering these interconnected dimensions when evaluating progress toward sustainable energy goals.

Given the increasing importance of humanitarian energy and the continuing challenges associated with sustainable energy provision, there is a need to examine recent research addressing these issues across different contexts. This review article analyzes five recent studies related to humanitarian energy, energy poverty, and energy governance. Collectively, these studies provide contemporary perspectives on the opportunities and challenges associated with achieving sustainable and equitable energy access. Through a review of these articles, this paper aims to provide an overview of current developments and emerging issues relevant to humanitarian energy and the broader objectives of SDG 7.

Skeletons in the closet: Why humanitarian energy projects fail and how we can learn from them

The study investigates the recurring causes of failure in humanitarian energy (HE) initiatives. It also aims to address these causes by providing actionable interventions for sustainable energy provision. A systematic review of the literature and semi-structured interviews with HE stakeholders and agencies were conducted. According to the results, failures were observed in five interdependent clusters: technological misalignment, economic unsustainability, community exclusion during planning, poor implementation, and policy barriers. The inability or unwillingness of users to pay is one of the most prevalent causes, while siloed operations and other factors also undermine HE initiatives. The paper suggests addressing epistemic and operational barriers through community co-design, long-term funding, and thorough documentation.

Adaptation to broken climate change mitigation: Exploring social and economic impacts of solar mini-grid electrification in Colombian island communities

Solar mini-grid electrification reduced energy poverty in three Colombian island communities. The electrification created opportunities but also had observable long-term social consequences. This study examines the social and economic changes brought about by mini-grid electrification in the three islands. Interviews, focus group discussions, and demographic data were used to analyze changes in cultural practices, livelihoods, and healthcare. The results show declining performance and reliability of the solar mini-grid, to which the community adapted by relying on private diesel generators and informal electricity distribution networks. This adaptation defeats the purpose of renewable energy interventions aimed at reducing dependence on fossil fuels. These outcomes were driven by high operating costs and limited technical capacity. The study suggests that delivering electrification to communities alone is insufficient; it also requires reliable system design, long-term governance capacity, and coordinated investments in social infrastructure.

Barriers and drivers for solar dryer adoption in Bhutan and Nepal: A study from the perspective of farmers and producers

Electrification is not the only application of renewable energy; it can also be used in technologies such as solar drying systems. This paper addresses a knowledge gap by investigating the barriers and drivers influencing the adoption of solar dryers among small-scale farmers. A thematic analysis was conducted using data collected from semi-structured interviews with farmers, ministry representatives, and agricultural authorities. Several barriers and drivers were identified, relating to economic, technical, governmental, design-related, and other factors. The most significant barriers are the lack of awareness and limited technological knowledge required for the long-term reliable use of the technology. The findings indicate that information, awareness, and support mechanisms are essential for the successful diffusion of the technology.

How representative is SDG7 of energy poverty in politically unstable landscapes? Guiding measurement and monitoring from perceptions to realities

The study considers the possibility that a narrow definition of SDG 7 reflects only a partial view of the energy system. This possibility may lead to overly optimistic assessments, particularly in conflict settings. Thus, the issue was examined through a comparative analysis of Middle East and North African (MENA) countries to identify national trends in SDG 7 indicators while accounting for national characteristics. The results emphasize that progress does not necessarily translate into improved outcomes, especially for populations experiencing pre-existing inequalities. Misleading SDG 7 progress indicators concealed the true scale of energy poverty (EP). The paper proposed a novel energy policy taxonomy for measuring and monitoring energy system performance. Influencing factors were considered and consolidated to support informed, targeted, evidence-based policy planning for energy poverty alleviation.

Colonial grids, exhausted bodies: Humanitarian energy’s politics and temporal entanglements

The study aims to document the effects of the prolonged humanitarian crisis in Lebanon. Decades of conflict, refugee influxes, and government corruption have further intensified the polycrisis. These crises have resulted in dysfunctional energy infrastructure, hindering access to electricity and fuel across the country. The study employs an ethnographic analysis that centers on aid workers’ adaptation to overlapping crises in Lebanon. Framed within the field of science and technology studies (STS), the analysis examines humanitarian workers’ experiences as they navigate, make sense of, and experience the effects of energy deprivation. The study emphasizes two key claims concerning material energy infrastructure and its effects on humanitarian actors. The results reveal humanitarian energy’s postcolonial entanglements, indicating temporal connections among the past, present, and future. This study demonstrates the value of STS as a tool for shedding light on the political dynamics of the energy crisis through humanitarian actors’ experiences of energy deprivation.

Conclusion

These five recently published research articles suggest that a narrow understanding of SDG 7 contributes to the long-term failure of various interventions. Factors such as inadequate measurement and monitoring, community exclusion from planning, unclear long-term strategies, and political dynamics play a role in shaping failures in humanitarian energy (HE) initiatives. The review also highlights studies outside the HE sector that yield similar findings, suggesting that the problem is more broadly applicable. Collectively, these papers call for a reassessment of the humanitarian energy sector and approaches to renewable energy delivery.

References

Rafa, N., Bisaga, I., Ferguson, R., Quigley, P., Jenks, A., & Perros, T. (2026). Skeletons in the closet: Why humanitarian energy projects fail and how we can learn from them. Energy Research & Social Science, 137, 104781. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2026.104781

Edsand, H., Aleán-Romero, A., Ayala-García, J., Castilla, T. J., & Valencia, S. C. (2026). Adaptation to broken climate change mitigation: Exploring social and economic impacts of solar mini-grid electrification in Colombian island communities. Energy Research & Social Science, 134, 104636. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2026.104636

Andreasson, N., Lundevaller, L., Sonesson, I., Lundquist, M., Dorji, C., Humagai, B. K., Zangmo, P., Baral, B., Davidsson, H., & Andersson, M. (2026). Barriers and drivers for solar dryer adoption in Bhutan and Nepal: A study from the perspective of farmers and producers. Energy Sustainable Development/Energy for Sustainable Development, 93, 102024. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esd.2026.102024

Zaidan, S., & Fadel, M. E. (2026). How representative is SDG7 of energy poverty in politically unstable landscapes? Guiding measurement and monitoring from perceptions to realities. Energy Policy, 210, 115051. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2025.115051

Harb, J. I., & Anantharajah, K. (2025). Colonial grids, exhausted bodies: Humanitarian energy’s politics and temporal entanglements. Energy Research & Social Science, 131, 104486. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2025.104486

Advancements in Electrical Power Grid Development: A Review of Five Key Studies on Vulnerability, Fault Detection, and Renewable Integration

Electricity is an important commodity in modern society. All modern households, commercial industries and critical infrastructure requires electrical energy supply to function effectively. As a result, electricity has become an essential resource for economic growth, technological development and social progress.

Delivering electrical energy to consumers requires complex infrastructure and systematic processes. Electricity is produced in distant generating power plants using various energy sources. From power plants, it is transmitted through high-voltage transmission lines although dangerous the power transfer efficiency is significant. It is then reduced to lower voltage and distributed to the consumers. The interconnected structure that enables this entire process is known as the electrical power grid.

The electrical power grid is considered one of the most sophisticated engineering systems ever developed. It consists of numerous devices, facilities and plants including a central command that controls and monitors the system. These components must operate together in a coordinated manner to ensure reliable electricity delivery. Over the years, significant improvements have been introduced in power system design, operation, protection, and control. These advancements have contributed to higher reliability, improved efficiency, and greater system stability. Nevertheless, the power grid continues to face new challenges as electrical demand increases and system requirements become more complex.

The growing consumption of electricity has created a need for further improvements in power system operation and planning. At the same time, modern power systems are integrating larger amounts of renewable energy resources. These developments introduce additional operational uncertainties and technical challenges. Engineers must therefore develop more precise methods for monitoring, controlling, and optimizing power system performance. Continuous improvement is necessary to maintain reliability and support future energy requirements.

Despite the need for innovation, testing new strategies directly on actual power systems can be difficult and potentially dangerous. Electrical grids operate under strict reliability and safety requirements. Any unsuccessful modification may lead to equipment damage, power interruptions, financial losses, or safety hazards. Furthermore, conducting large-scale experiments on operational power systems can be expensive and time-consuming. These limitations make it impractical to evaluate every proposed improvement through direct implementation. Consequently, researchers and engineers often rely on simulation techniques to investigate system behavior and assess the feasibility of new approaches.

Simulation has become an essential tool in modern power system research. It provides a controlled environment in which different operating conditions can be studied without affecting real-world infrastructure. Researchers can analyze system performance, evaluate control strategies, investigate fault conditions, and predict system responses under various scenarios. The continuous advancement of computational capacity has significantly enhanced the capabilities of simulation tools. Modern computers can process large datasets and perform complex calculations with high speed and accuracy. These capabilities allow researchers to construct detailed mathematical models that closely represent empirical system behavior. The success of simulation-based research has also been supported by the availability of standardized test systems and modeling frameworks. Many of these resources are documented in publications and repositories in the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). Such resources provide researchers with reliable platforms for validating methodologies and comparing results across different studies. Thus, simulation has become a widely accepted approach for evaluating proposed solutions before their potential implementation in real-world power systems.

This reviews five research studies that focus on the development and assessment of different techniques for improving power system performance. The selected studies explore various modeling approaches, optimization methods, and combinations of analytical techniques. Each proposed method is evaluated through simulation-based analysis. Mathematical formulations are used to establish theoretical foundations, while statistical measures are employed to assess performance and effectiveness. Through a comparative examination of these studies, this paper seeks to determine the level of success achieved by the proposed models. The findings may provide valuable insights into current developments in power system research and contribute to a better understanding of emerging approaches for electrical grid improvement.

A Boundary-Compensated Partition-Based Parallel Graph Neural Network for Weak-Bus Identification in Interconnected Power Grids

The study highlights the limitations of two methods, namely conventional full-graph neural networks for large-scale power grids and direct graph partitioning techniques used for identifying weak buses in the system. Boundary regions that are not covered by the model may become vulnerable, and their susceptibility may remain undetected. To address this limitation, the paper proposes a boundary-compensated partition-based parallel graph neural network framework for the identification of weak buses. The IEEE 57-bus benchmark, together with mechanism-based node and branch vulnerability labels, was used to evaluate the proposed method. The analytical framework successfully captures weak buses within the power system. Furthermore, local aggregation, boundary transmission, and corridor-driven vulnerability propagation were identified as key indicators of weak buses. However, the study limits its validation to a medium-scale benchmark rather than demonstrating scalability across large-scale power systems.

A Novel Hybrid Platform Based on Deep Learning for Fault Detection and Localization in a Smart Distribution Grid

Rapid and accurate fault detection and localization are essential for ensuring the reliability of smart transmission systems. Traveling-wave (TW) methods provide high fault-location accuracy under strict operating conditions, whereas data-driven models are generally more robust but often exhibit lower precision. The paper proposes a unified and modular framework that integrates the TW analytical method with a one-dimensional convolutional neural network (1D-CNN) model, allowing the strengths of both approaches to complement each other. The key contribution of this study is an adaptive decision strategy that combines the outputs of the TW method and the 1D-CNN model to generate a more accurate and reliable fault-location estimate. The framework’s performance is systematically evaluated using standard detection and localization metrics. The hybrid methodology enhances both accuracy and robustness, demonstrating its potential as a solution for advanced monitoring and protection in modern power grids.

Data-Driven Physics-Informed LSTM for Voltage Regulation in Active Distribution Networks

The integration of renewable energy sources, particularly photovoltaic (PV) generation, into the power grid creates challenges in voltage regulation due to the distributed nature of these energy sources. Several control methods have been developed, but each has its own limitations. Droop control operates locally, central optimal power flow requires full network observability and control, and multi-agent deep reinforcement learning (MADRL) methods involve long training times and significant algorithmic complexity. The paper proposes the Optimal Historical Selection and Forecasting (OHSF) scheme, which combines a physics-informed long short-term memory (LSTM) network with an online sensitivity-based correction loop for medium-voltage active distribution networks. The results demonstrate reduced average voltage deviations across all PV buses in simulations of modified IEEE 33-bus and 69-bus test systems, while also achieving significantly shorter training times.

MISSA-BPNN-Based Surrogate Model for Wind-Induced Stress Prediction in Vulnerable Regions of Transmission Towers

Stress monitoring of transmission towers under strong wind conditions remains challenging. Conventional contact-based sensors are complex to install, difficult to maintain, and prone to damage. Recent advances in non-contact displacement measurement technologies, such as laser measurement and machine vision, have created new opportunities for structural monitoring. The paper proposes a wind-induced stress surrogate model based on a Multi-Strategy Improved Sparrow Search Algorithm and a Backpropagation Neural Network (MISSA-BPNN) to identify structurally vulnerable regions of transmission towers. The results demonstrate the successful identification of vulnerable regions in the transmission towers analyzed. This method provides a new approach for monitoring transmission line infrastructure.

Short circuit current limitation using series reactors in 20 kV distribution feeder

Short-circuit faults produce extremely high fault currents that can cause significant damage to electrical equipment. These faults can be severe and may significantly reduce system reliability. One method of limiting fault-related damage is the installation of a series reactor, also known as a current-limiting reactor (CLR). The study uses ETAP simulation software based on IEC 60909 standards to evaluate the effects of four types of short-circuit faults: three-phase faults, single-line-to-ground faults, line-to-line faults, and double-line-to-ground faults. The results confirm that series reactors can significantly reduce fault currents, thereby minimizing potential damage to electrical equipment.

Conclusion

The five recently published research articles focus on different aspects of the power grid. The first article focuses on system vulnerability, the second presents a new fault-detection method, the third addresses voltage regulation challenges associated with renewable energy integration, the fourth examines the structural assessment of transmission towers, and the fifth discusses the protection of power equipment and transmission lines against faults and their rapid recovery. Collectively, these studies complement one another and contribute to the development of a more robust and stable power grid.

References

Qin, J., Zhang, Z., Li, F., Xue, Y., Si, Y., & Su, L. (2026). A Boundary-Compensated Partition-Based parallel graph neural network for Weak-Bus identification in interconnected power grids. Energies, 19(11), 2630. https://doi.org/10.3390/en19112630

Souhe, F. G. Y., Ekemb, G., Mbey, C. F., Kakeu, V. J. F., & Boum, A. T. (2026). A novel hybrid platform based on deep learning for fault detection and localization in a smart distribution grid. Journal of Electrical and Computer Engineering, 2026(1). https://doi.org/10.1155/jece/8886698

Hein, H., Yu, H., Yu, L., & Deng, Z. (2026). Data-Driven Physics-Informed LSTM for voltage regulation in active distribution networks. Energies, 19(11), 2609. https://doi.org/10.3390/en19112609

Wang, F., Zhang, T., Tang, Y., & Liu, Y. (2026). MISSA-BPNN-Based Surrogate Model for Wind-Induced Stress Prediction in Vulnerable Regions of Transmission towers. Processes, 14(11), 1785. https://doi.org/10.3390/pr14111785

Siregar, R. H., Farras, A., & Syahrizal, S. (2026). Short circuit current limitation using series reactors in 20 kV distribution feeder. Journal Geuthee of Engineering and Energy (JOGE), 5(1), 62–74. https://doi.org/10.52626/joge.v5i1.94