DrWhitney Pailman

Research interests

My research focuses on advancing affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy access, particularly for underserved and income-constrained communities. I am particularly interested in renewable energy business and financing models, socio-economic impacts of energy access, productive uses of energy, urban electrification in informal settlements, and inclusive clean energy transitions. My work explores how innovative financing approaches, partnerships, and energy technologies can support sustainable energy access and socio-economic development across Sub-Saharan Africa.

Research projects and grants

Moving IMPACT – Integrated Means to Power Agriculture, Clean Cooking and Transportation (Ayrton Fund)

Imperial College London | 2026–2027 | Role: Postdoctoral Research Associate

Moving IMPACT is an interdisciplinary research project exploring how solar mini-grids can be integrated with productive uses of energy, agriculture, clean cooking technologies, and electric mobility systems in rural communities across Sub-Saharan Africa.

My research focuses on socio-economic and techno-economic analysis of solar mini-grid implementation, particularly in Ghana and Kenya, examining impacts on livelihoods, enterprise development, employment, gender equality, and community well-being. The project also involves collaboration with international academic and industry partners to investigate integrated mini-grid solutions for sustainable energy access.

Integrated Business Models for Off-grid Energy Access in Low-income Urban Settlements at the Grid’s Edge (British Academy Newton International Fellowship)

University of Exeter | 2023–2025 | Role: British Academy Newton International Fellowship Award Holder

This research explored integrated business and financing models for advancing affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy access in low-income urban settlements across Sub-Saharan Africa. It examined the challenges and opportunities for integrating off-grid solar mini-grids into urban electrification strategies, particularly in underserved urban and peri-urban communities where access to the electricity grid remains limited or unaffordable.

Drawing on comparative case studies of innovative mini-grid initiatives in South Africa and Uganda, the research investigated how integrated approaches to electrification, infrastructure planning, and utility business models can improve energy service delivery and support more inclusive urban energy transitions. The study also explored pathways for scaling and sustaining off-grid energy innovations, with implications for energy policy, financing, and the development of sustainable urban energy systems.

Related research includes The informality–energy innovation–finance nexus: Sustainable business models for microgrid-based off-grid urban energy access.

EDI-GEN: Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in Energy Systems – Community and Gender Perspectives

UK Energy Research Centre (UKERC) | 2023 | Role: Co-Investigator

EDI-GEN examined how future energy systems can better respond to the needs of local communities, particularly socio-economically disadvantaged groups, while integrating the experiences and perspectives of community members who are often marginalised or excluded from energy policy and decision-making processes.

The project contributed to research and policy-oriented outputs addressing equality, diversity, and inclusion in energy systems and the importance of community perspectives in shaping equitable energy transitions.

Infrastructure Disruptions, Resilience and Economic Mobility in the Off-grid City

University of Exeter – Engaged and Participatory Research Funding | November 2024–June 2025 | Role: Co-Investigator

This project involved engaged and participatory research with informal settlement communities, exploring how disruptions to essential infrastructure shape everyday experiences, resilience, livelihoods, and economic mobility in underserved urban contexts.

Piloting Basic Solar Energy Grants for Equitable Access to Energy

University of Exeter – Open Innovation Platform Funding | April–July 2024 | Role: Co-Investigator

This project explored innovative approaches to improving equitable access to solar electricity in low-income informal settlements in South Africa, with a focus on piloting basic solar energy grants and examining their potential to address affordability barriers and support more inclusive urban electrification.

Transforming Energy Access (TEA) – Research Support Service

University of Cape Town - UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) | 2022–2025 | Role: Researcher

Transforming Energy Access (TEA) is an FCDO-funded research and innovation platform supporting the development and deployment of clean energy technologies and solutions in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.

My research involved cross-cutting analysis of off-grid clean energy business and financing models, including engagement with TEA partners, energy access enterprises, and financing stakeholders such as patient capital and equity providers. This work contributed to research on financing transitions along the energy access finance continuum and an accompanying TEA knowledge brief, examining financing gaps, opportunities, and pathways for scaling sustainable energy access innovations.

UMBANE – Solar Micro-grid Innovation in Informal Settlements (Newton Fund)

University of Cape Town and University of Exeter | 2021–2022 | Role: Researcher

UMBANE (the isiXhosa word for electricity) explored innovative renewable energy-powered business solutions for informal settlements in South Africa through solar micro-grids. A key innovation involved integrating refrigeration capacity into existing solar micro-grid systems to support productive uses of electricity, local entrepreneurship, and income-generating activities.

The research examined integrated energy services and business models, with particular attention to affordability, financial viability, and opportunities for sustainable enterprise development in underserved urban communities.

ENERGIA – Productive Uses of Energy and Women's Empowerment

ENERGIA / University of Cape Town Energy Research Centre | 2017–2018 | Role: Research Assistant

This international research project examined productive uses of energy in informal food preparation and processing enterprises across Rwanda, Senegal, and South Africa, with a particular focus on micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and women's economic empowerment.

The research investigated how changes in energy access and use within informal enterprises can influence productive activities, livelihoods, and gender outcomes. Research contributions included supporting fieldwork preparation, survey instrument testing, and stakeholder engagement.