Prince Charles takes 'practical action' on renewable energy for world's poor

Press release, 9 February 2010

Prince Charles is meeting with international development charity Practical Action to discuss how renewable energy could reduce dire poverty in developing countries.

HRH Prince Charles, who is the charity's patron, will be hosting the meeting at St James' Palace on Wednesday February 10. The meeting aims to highlight how energy can - and does - give people more options for a future free of poverty.

For more than 40 years Practical Action has been working with communities to provide renewable energy projects and lift people out of poverty. Whether micro hydro schemes, wind power or solar, the charity has seen first hand how this is a solution for many living in poverty.

Renewable energy means children can study for longer rather than relying on dangerous kerosene lamps in the home, allows medical clinics to open after dark, vaccines can be refrigerated and people can start their own businesses, such as lucrative battery charging and welding enterprises.

A lack of energy can leads to children being forced out of school to help collect poor grade fuel - such as wood and dung. Burning these materials can have a detrimental effect on people's health - diseases caused by smoke from open fires kills someone every 20 seconds and is the equivalent of smoking two packets of cigarettes a day.

The meeting will bring together companies for a round table discussion who are interested in how renewable energy could provide a solution for the 1.5 billion people across the world with no access to electricity. In addition 2 billion - almost half of the world's population - are forced to rely on biomass - wood, crop residue and dung as a cooking fuel and for heat and light.

And the Practical Action projects are carbon friendly, meaning people living in some of the world's poorest countries are accessing energy without contributing to climate change.

HRH Prince Charles has spoken out about the importance of renewable energy in the past and his concerns that not enough is being done to use them more widely.

Simon Trace, Practical Action's Chief Executive, said: "We know renewable energy can - and does - reduce poverty. Not only does it give people energy it provides opportunities to make money and help lift themselves out of poverty. This meeting with Prince Charles will help us to highlight the issue and bring it into the public arena."

Victor Canchis, a Peruvian farmer told how: "I never could have believed we would have electricity in our homes, or that it would be provided through our mountains, sun and water. I no longer need to buy kerosene, candles and batteries - I have saved 26 soles (£6) already this month which I can spend on my children's education."

Read more about access to energy - and sustainable solutions that work