This UN Foundation report, “Energy Access Practitioner Network: Towards Achieving Universal Energy Access by 2030” focuses on innovative business models for micro- and off-grid electricity solutions, dispels myths that renewable energy is too expensive for the poor, and provides recommendations from on-the-ground experience in 125 countries.
18 June 2012: The UN Foundation has released a report titled “Energy Access Practitioner Network: Towards Achieving Universal Energy Access by 2030,” which focuses on micro- and off-grid electricity solutions for community and household electrification, and provides recommendations from on-the-ground experience in 125 countries.
Based on a two-year participatory consultation process, the Practitioner Networks results were released at the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or Rio+20), the report provides examples of innovative business models and policies necessary to provide sustainable energy to the energy poor. It focuses on five key areas: advancing mini- and micro-grids; understanding the market; improving policy and regulatory frameworks; facilitating finance; and improving standards and testing. The report further seeks to dispel the myth that renewable energy solutions are too expensive for the poor by illustrating practical experiences on energy service delivery from around the world.
The report includes financing, policy and technical recommendations designed to ensure that communities and customers receive the benefits of modern energy services and corresponding development benefits in agriculture, education, environmental protection, gender equity, health, and income generation.
The Energy Access Practitioner Network is a group of over 500 international experts that identify and address market barriers to energy service delivery in support of the UN Secretary-General’s Sustainable Energy for All Initiative. [SE4ALL Press release] [Publication: Energy Access Practitioner Network: Towards Achieving Universal Energy Access by 2030] [Fact Sheet on Energy Access Practitioner Network] [Fact Sheet on Energy Access Issues]