Energy
Energy
Millions of people living in developing countries have no access to modern energy. They must rely on traditional methods of lighting, heating and cooking - methods that are often unreliable and hazardous.
Practical Action aims to increase poor people's access to energy, through improving the efficiency of stoves, and through small-scale, low cost, off-grid electricity supply. We work closely with communities to help them develop technology options which are appropriate to their needs.
Working with communities to develop appropriate solutions
Three billion people use wood, charcoal, and organic waste for cooking. Practical Action helps to develop technical improvements, such as low cost cooking stoves to improve upon the traditional three-stone cooking fires, and to reduce indoor air pollution by developing smoke hoods.
Where communities seek additional options for energy supply, Practical Action helps them to develop and promote sustainable energy technologies - sustainable, not only because they use renewable energy sources, but also because the community can participate in designing, building and maintaining the project.
The benefits to communities can be dramatic.
Improved cooking stoves use one third of the amount of firewood as a traditional fire. They also reduce household smoke levels, with benefits to the health of women and children. 
Micro-hydro plants can be used to mechanise crucial tasks like grain milling, and to power small businesses, as well as to bring community and household light. |
Small scale wind power generators can charge up the vehicle batteries which are used by hundreds of thousands of off-grid households to light their homes. 
Biogas plants can provide 75% of household cooking needs, run lights and heat up irons - with a by-product of enriched fertiliser for farmers' fields. |
Access to these energy options brings greater income, reduced drudgery (in firewood collection and cleaning utensils, for example), better education for children who can study in a lighted home, and access to public goods like information through TV and radio, or lighting for community centres.
Practical Action video
Watch videos on Practical Action's energy work, including:
Read more about Practical Action's energy expertise and project work on our international site
