Transforming Energy Access: Innovations towards SDG 7

It is estimated that 1 billion people (13% of the global population) do not have access to electricity and an even larger proportion of people lack a stable power supply. Those living in off-grid areas use fossil fuels for energy. An international commitment has been made to address this problem-Sustainable Development Goal 7: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.

The lack of access to a reliable energy source is also a primary barrier for growth for many African businesses and economies. As large-scale, grid-based systems are challenging to run, it opens the door to opportunities for decentralised and smart energy systems. This will impact on local economic development, social welfare, and also reduce carbon emissions.

On the 7th of March 2019 the event Transforming Energy Access: Innovations towards SDG 7, was hosted by the UK Department for International Development, with the collaboration of Transforming Energy Access and Efficiency for Access. This was a one-day event dedicated to discussions on accelerating the transition between clean energy innovations and impact at scale, especially in Africa, through improved alignment of supportive policy and investment.

The event brought together a range of policymakers, investors, programme managers, energy innovators and entrepreneurs, and wider stakeholders who shared innovations and discussed ways to improve coordination and facilitate knowledge exchange for accelerating the achievement of SDG 7.

The event included breakout sessions about topics including Energy Storage, Digital Energy, Unlocking Mini-Grids, and more. It also included a marketplace in which diverse innovating companies were invited to showcase their technologies that are facilitating energy access across Africa. Among these invited innovators was InspiraFarms.

More information here