this context triggers specific challenges that can potentially be met by technology solutions through the adoption of new products and improving existing ones solutions available today such as smart grids and modern renewable energy technologies were not around for oecd countries at the similar stage of development nonoecd countries need to exploit longterm opportunities to move quickly towards sustainable energy systems and avoid technology lockins especially since electricity infrastructure is characterised by long lifetimes in an urban context grid extension is the logical choice and electrification approaches are very similar around the world