Energy Access
Affordable, reliable, clean energy can transform the lives of almost a billion people living without electricity. Solar-powered lamps can provide light to homes and classrooms across underserved communities, allowing students to study after dark, while also charging cell phones. Rooftop solar systems can help electrify health clinics, keeping refrigerated, life-saving vaccines at safe temperatures, medical equipment running during operations and water heated to maintain sterile environments. And other innovative, off-grid technologies can power small businesses and agricultural equipment, boosting economic productivity and alleviating poverty across the developing world.
Yet this relationship between development and energy access is a two-way street. Electrification can accelerate growth, but development must also generate a strong, continued demand for energy services if financially secure, self-sustaining power initiatives are to thrive. Without a paradigm shift in how countries develop their energy systems – from better understanding users’ electricity needs to prioritizing affordability rather than improving supply, alone – modern, inexpensive electricity services will remain out of reach for the rural poor. And millions more connected to the grid will continue to grapple with unreliable power, insufficient supply and frequent outages.
WRI works with service delivery organizations, development institutions, businesses, funders and governments to extend affordable, reliable and sustainable electricity needed to power development across unserved and underserved areas. We start by leveraging the power of satellite imagery alongside local data sets to visualize energy supply and demand with Energy Access Explorer, equipping electricity planners, investors, development practitioners and clean energy entrepreneurs with the information they need to close the electricity access gap. Off-grid developers, for example, can see where customers live and where demand for electricity may be high, while development finance institutions can pinpoint regions in which electrification funding efforts would achieve the highest impact.
Partnering with public and private sector leaders around the world, WRI advances inclusive, bottom-up solutions that link electrification to sustainable development priorities. Our Energy for Development Initiative helps organizations delivering health, education and agricultural services articulate their power needs, utilize clean energy technologies to advance their work and attract investment in renewables. We also support clean energy entrepreneurs in East Africa by identifying the barriers they face in accessing capital, connecting them with global impact investors and highlighting the positive impacts they are making within their communities, from increasing incomes to improving quality of life.
To learn more about our energy access work, please reach out to Davida Wood. For questions about what we’re doing in Africa, contact Benson Ireri, and for India, Pamli Deka. To stay updated on the latest research, analysis and commentary, subscribe to our newsletters Greening Governance and Energy Insights, and follow us on Twitter @WRIGovernance and @WRIEnergy.
Featured Expert
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Davida Wood
New in Energy Access
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Energy Access Projects
Mapping and Measuring Clean Energy for Development
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Energy Access Explorer
A mapping platform to connect affordable, reliable and clean energy to sustainable development solutions for all.
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Electricity Supply Monitoring Initiative
Increasing transparency across the electricity sector to boost access to affordable, reliable and clean energy
Powering Sustainable Development
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Energy for Development Initiative
Advancing demand-driven solutions for affordable, reliable, clean energy to power sustainable development around the world.
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Clean Energy Entrepreneurs Initiative
Supporting local businesses pioneer affordable, reliable and clean energy solutions for all.
Experts
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Jennifer Layke
Global Director, Energy -
Davida Wood
Lead, Energy Access and Governance -
Bharath Jairaj
Director, Energy, WRI India -
Lily Odarno
Senior Associate, Energy Access -
Benson Ireri
Africa Lead, Energy Access -
Dimitrios Mentis
Senior Energy Geographer, Energy Access; Project Lead, Energy Access Explorer -
Emily Kaldjian
Communications Manager, Energy Program -
Katie Pastor
Communications Specialist II, Energy Program -
Beryl Ajwang
Research Analyst, Energy Access Program, WRI Africa -
Cesar Gonzalez
Project Coordinator, Energy Access -
Santiago Sinclair Lecaros
Research Analyst II, Energy