Remote, Rural, and Peripheral: Energy Equity and Spatial Justice in Marginalised Contexts of the Global South

How does spatial marginalisation impact equitable energy access, and how can spatial justice guide inclusive and sustainable energy transitions? This seminar addresses these questions through three distinct yet interrelated case-studies from Pakistan: off-grid solar electrification for a remote village in the Thar desert in Sindh; decentralised community-driven micro-hydro power projects in rural Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and energy infrastructure heterogeneity in Lahore’s urban peripheries. Using a socio-technical and intersectional lens, the talk explores how different forms of spatial marginality, including geographic isolation, socio-economic exclusion, and gendered infrastructural disparities impact energy access and shape sustainable development outcomes. It highlights spatial justice as a powerful and critical lens for achieving equity and inclusion in energy transitions, offering lessons and insights for energy policymakers, planners, and sustainability practitioners.