For local manufacturing to create jobs in Africa, governments need to look beyond standard incentives
For countries in sub-Saharan Africa to undertake successful assembly and manufacturing of solar products, there is need to ensure an enabling environment is created to encourage companies and investors to move beyond future commitments. It is critical that countries put in place that prioritise local content in off-grid solar procurement, as otherwise this will likely create supply side constraints in reaching energy access targets
Clean energy transition through integrated energy, what will it take?
Neither centralized nor decentralized energy is purpose-built to end energy poverty at scale, alone. Integrated energy approach through public private partnerships can accelerate energy access, through faster and lower-cost electrification, and advance productive use of energy. However, regulatory and finance interventions are needed to transform national energy systems into robust networks that deliver reliable, affordable, universal access for all.
Now or never: SDG7 out of reach without decisive action
Despite the remarkable growth in rural electrification over the last decade, the world is falling short of its sustainable energy goals. Lack of access to energy impedes both economic and human development. In an urgent call to action ahead of summits on energy and climate, the co-facilitators of the SDG7 Technical Advisory Group assert that we must radically accelerate the pace of scaling energy access to create a more resilient, equitable and sustainable future.
Distributed renewable energy has a major role in enhancing energy access and sustainable development in India. However, it is yet to realize even a small fraction of its potential.
Amid the disruptions caused by the pandemic, the energy sector has showcased agility by developing new strategies to help its survival in the new landscape. Leaders have also seized the moment and stayed ahead through strategic planning and change management. Power for All campaign coordinators share their experiences and how we responded to the crisis.
African healthcare officials describe the urgent need for much greater support for electrifying rural healthcare facilities, calling the situation an emergency because of COVID-19.
Commercial and industrial (C&I) off-takers can become the main driver for the energy transition in Africa and elsewhere. This is in-line with a global trend that is seeing C&I businesses integrating renewable energy solutions to power on-site operations. Renewables address three issues: greening energy supply, reducing cost and making power more reliable.
SELCO has been working with community women in rural India to be on-the-ground business associates for DRE products.
Donors have deployed just 13% of the US$ 1.6 billion in funds committed to the minigrid sector in Sub-Saharan Africa, and most of that went to technical assistance consultants, not building projects. Where is the other 87%?, asks the African Minigrid Developers Association (AMDA).
Off track and under-funded, the goal of universal energy access will only happen if there is much tighter collaboration between funders to unify a highly fragmented finance landscape, while also maintaining a laser focus on results. SEforALL explains why multi-donor RBF is essential for success.
To be successful, the energy transition will require a generational transition as well. New ideas, new leadership, and new opportunities depend on putting young people at the center of shaping the future of energy systems in Africa and Asia. The time for business-as-usual approaches is ending, as we take the first steps toward the next energy generation and a new legacy.
Electricity consumption is a misleading measure of energy poverty and SDG7 is significantly farther away than governments and donors currently think, according to a new IIASA framework that measures energy access based on appliance ownership. The framework also shows affordability is a greater barrier than previously thought.