Category: energy access

The key challenges for Africa to transform its energy systems today

Sebastian Sterl, Assistant Professor, Energy Meteorology at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, in an article on The Conversation website, discusses the five challenges to develop sustainable energy systems for today’s world.   Africa’s energy sector will need to transform radically - these are the five biggest challenges The future of Africa’s energy sector is getting increasing … Continue reading The key challenges for Africa to transform its energy systems today →

Accelerating SDG7 action

Sustainable Development Goal 7 is one of 17 Sustainable Development Goals established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2015. It aims to "Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all." It is important to look at the work that is underway through the UN High-level Dialogue on Energy to see what … Continue reading Accelerating SDG7 action →

Many benefits but expanding solar power in Africa also brings some risks

In an article on The Conversation website, Ben Radley, Lecturer in International Development at the University of Bath provides a thoughtful consideration about risks of financialisation and rising inequality in some models of renewables rollout in Africa.   Expanded access to solar power in Africa can stimulate economic development – but there are risks UN … Continue reading Many benefits but expanding solar power in Africa also brings some risks →

Pinning hope on “modern” energy as the solution for Zimbabwe is overly simplistic

Currently, SDG7 as a global agenda for energy development is tinkering on the periphery, according to Ellen Fungisai Chipango, Postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Johannesburg. She explains in an article on The Conversation website.   Global energy targets don’t deal with people’s real problems in Zimbabwe Thirty years ago, ending energy poverty wasn’t among … Continue reading Pinning hope on “modern” energy as the solution for Zimbabwe is overly simplistic →

SDG7 energy progress report concludes that ensuring affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all by 2030 is still possible but . . .

The energy progress report concludes that ensuring affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all by 2030 is still possible but that more financial and political commitment is required. The number of people without electricity fell from 1.2 billion in 2010 to 840 million today, with India, Bangladesh, Kenya and Myanmar among the countries making … Continue reading SDG7 energy progress report concludes that ensuring affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all by 2030 is still possible but . . . →

How we can ensure better energy access for the world’s poorest

Meeting the global Sustainable Development Goals was never going to be easy. There is growing concern that SDG7 concerning energy access is significantly not meeting its targets. Ruth Valerio writes on the Climate Home News website that just 1% of funding for energy access goes to decentralised energy, but it’s the only hope for delivering … Continue reading How we can ensure better energy access for the world’s poorest →

Foreign investments in Africa’s energy need to focus on self-sufficiency, inclusiveness and sustainability

There are considerable investments now in Africa to improve the energy infrastructure and ensure better energy access. However, as written in an article on The Conversation website, Philipp Trotter, PhD candidate at the University of Bath and Sabah Abdullah, Research Fellow, The University of Queensland, write that more understanding of the long-term implications of current … Continue reading Foreign investments in Africa’s energy need to focus on self-sufficiency, inclusiveness and sustainability →

Decentralised renewable energy technologies offer important solution for “under-the-grid” electrification in Africa

Access to energy is a big concern. As Rebekah Shirley, Research Director at Power for All and Visiting Research Scholar at Strathmore University in Kenya writes on The Conversation website, at least 110 million people in Africa still live without such access. But there are some good solutions, she explains. Millions of urban Africans still … Continue reading Decentralised renewable energy technologies offer important solution for “under-the-grid” electrification in Africa →

India’s energy transition still needs to cope with country’s caste system

Every week we are reading more and more about the important strides forward that India is making in its energy transition. Vibhor Saxena, Associate Lecturer in Economics at the University of St Andrews points out in an article on The Conversation website that some social groups are not enjoying the benefits that wealthier households are. … Continue reading India’s energy transition still needs to cope with country’s caste system →