Solar Solutions for Informal Settlements: Advancing Climate Resilience in Global South Cities

Abstract

Informal settlements across the global South face escalating climate risks, entrenched energy poverty and deep spatial inequalities. This article examines how decentralised solar energy can enhance climate resilience and advance energy justice in these contexts, drawing on a comparative analysis of Dharavi (India), Rocinha (Brazil) and Diepsloot (South Africa), and an empirical survey from Lephalale (South Africa). A systematic evidence-mapping review was conducted across major academic databases and grey-literature sources, followed by qualitative cross-case comparison. The study sites were selected as cases based on their high informality, climate exposure, energy poverty and documented decentralised solar initiatives. The survey in Lephalale focused on energy inequality, coal dependence, governance participation and attitudes towards renewable energy. Findings show that decentralised solar systems can improve safety, affordability and local resilience and can challenge forms of ‘energy apartheid’, but their transformative potential depends on inclusive governance, pro-poor financing, long-term maintenance arrangements and strong intermediary organisations. Successful projects emerge where communities co-design, co-own or co-manage systems, supported by federations, cooperatives or grassroots networks. The article concludes that decentralised solar solutions must be embedded within justice-oriented urban and energy policies that address underlying structural inequalities, recognise informal settlements as legitimate urban spaces and institutionalise community participation.