Energy access

Energy that transforms

Almost three billion people don’t have clean, safe cooking facilities and close to one billion people lack access to the electricity that could power their progress, improve their health, education and opportunities to earn a better living.

That’s why we’re innovating in clean cooking and renewable off-grid electricity solutions that can help people lift themselves out of poverty. We’re working with rural communities, displaced people, energy providers and decision makers to harness the transformational power of clean, affordable energy.

We ensure that energy access is not only widely delivered but also includes those that are often hardest to reach. A key focus of our work is to catalyse off-grid energy access markets, for example through working with energy businesses and entrepreneurs (particularly women), as well as communities.

For people

Making it life changing
Improving incomes, health and education, empowering refugees.

For planet

Making it green and safe
From renewable sources and for clean cooking.

A light bulb icon on a green background.

For big change

Making access possible
Through energy policy and private sector and community collaboration.

Our energy access focus

We will maintain our leadership in humanitarian energy, develop our portfolio and influence in energy for agriculture and develop larger scale clean cooking programmes, linking to carbon finance.

The Global Distributors Collective (see below) will deliver widespread systems change, and we will develop a plan for its long-term future.

Enabling people to access electricity that could improve their health, education and livelihoods
Helping commercial providers of mini-grids, biogas and solar systems reach poor and remote communities profitably for all
Reducing harmful smoke inhalation by using cleaner cooking stoves and fuels

By 2025, our work with partners will have led to two million people in ‘last mile’ communities and a further 18 million systems beneficiaries having access to affordable low-carbon energy, for household, business and community uses.

Energy projects

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A man is standing in front of a small shop promoting Renewable Energy for Refugees (RE4R).

Eastern Africa

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What makes us different

We understand the needs of energy-poor communities and have a track record of getting their voice centre-stage.
We combine our expertise in renewable energy and agriculture to improve rural livelihoods and are strategic in identifying the best roles for us to play in this area.
We are well respected on clean cooking and are using a range of approaches to increase our scale including linking to carbon finance.
We have experience in how energy can be effectively provided in rural areas to transform schools and health centres.

Policy and influence

We are calling for an urgent scale-up of inclusive energy access, ensuring no one is left behind in 2030.

We are advocating for a large increase in public and private funding for decentralised energy solutions. Funding needs go beyond addressing energy supply to include support for developing productive uses of energy, to ensure energy access is truly transformative and reduces poverty.

Much more effort is needed to address the clean cooking challenge. Funding is needed to support a variety of technical options and programmes creating awareness and behaviour change.

Through our technical advisory work, we assist governments to create enabling policy and regulatory frameworks for off-grid energy access.

We do not accept that millions of us may not gain access to affordable electricity or clean cooking for at least another generation – if at all.

Knowledge & Expertise

Learn more from the work we do with rural communities, displaced people, energy providers and decision makers to put sustainable, clean energy solutions to work for the people who need them most. Explore a sample of our reports, policy papers, technical information and publications.

View resources

Electricity Energy

Poor People’s Energy Outlook (PPEO)

PPEO explores what it takes to realise the kinds of energy services that enable people living in energy poverty to thrive. Our report compiles and updates key messages and recommendations on energy access planning (PPEO 2016), financing (PPEO 2017) and delivering at scale, while also leaving no one behind (PPEO 2018).

Energy partnerships

Our impact is achieved through a unique network of local, national and international partners, government organisations and forward thinking, companies and funders. Our shared goals and combined expertise mean that together we can take on some of the world’s toughest challenges.

Global Distributor’s Collective

Our Global Distributors Collective supports Last Mile Distribution companies to reach underserved customers with life-changing products like solar lights or clean cookstoves.

We work to promote productive uses to help communities maximise the economic benefits of gaining energy access, while at the same time ensuring energy supply can remain viable.

More about this partnership

Brighter futures in Peru

We’ve partnered with the Ministry of Education and Amazonas and Puno’s regional governments to light up the future of education in rural Peru through a bilingual, intercultural, technological and sustainable school model.

The school model we’ve created together offers a sustainable alternative to communities in remote locations, and has the potential to transform the lives and futures of millions of children and their families struggling to receive a quality education.

More about this partnership

Energy for refugees

We worked in partnership with UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, to lead a project which provided renewable energy solutions to refugee families, schools, and the communities hosting them in Jordan.

In three years of partnership, we worked with refugee communities so they could access solar-powered systems and products, including heaters and lights, for their homes and schools. The work meant that children could get a better education and had light to study by in the evenings. More widely, it contributed to a stronger enabling environment for the adoption of renewable energy services for refugees.

More about this partnership

Clearing the air in Darfur

We worked alongside alongside international climate consultancy EcoAct and the Women’s Development Association to introduce new Liquid Petroleum Gas stoves in El Fasher, Darfur.

The switch to these new Liquid Petroleum Gas Stoves quickly reduced carbon emissions and gave thousands of families clean air, improved health, more time and more money to spend on essentials. The project also sought to provide women in Darfur with business and accounting skills.

More about this partnership

Find out more

Two women in Darfur, making handbags using new skills taught by practical action.

Knowledge Centre

Browse our resources

A house in the middle of a field at dusk, exemplifying extreme poverty.

Technical consulting in energy

Learn more

Publishing

Books for practitioners & researchers

School resources

Knowledge centre

Energy Access

Energy that transforms

For people

For planet

For big change

Our energy access focus

By 2025, our work with partners will have led to two million people in ‘last mile’ communities and a further 18 million systems beneficiaries having access to affordable low-carbon energy, for household, business and community uses.

Energy projects

Renewable Energy for Refugees - Phase 1

Energising female empowerment

Power a farm. Feed a nation

What makes us different

Policy and influence

We do not accept that millions of us may not gain access to affordable electricity or clean cooking for at least another generation – if at all.

Knowledge & Expertise

Poor People’s Energy Outlook (PPEO)

Energy partnerships

Global Distributor’s Collective

Brighter futures in Peru

Energy for refugees

Clearing the air in Darfur

Energy news

Find out more

Knowledge Centre

Technical consulting in energy

Publishing

Search

Energy Access

Energy that transforms

For people

For planet

For big change

Our energy access focus

By 2025, our work with partners will have led to ​two million people in ‘last mile’ communities and a further 18 million systems beneficiaries having access to affordable low-carbon energy, for household, business and community uses.

Renewable Energy for Refugees - Phase 1

Energising female empowerment

Power a farm. Feed a nation

What makes us different

Policy and influence

We do not accept that millions of us may not gain access to affordable electricity or clean cooking for at least another generation – if at all.

Poor People’s Energy Outlook (PPEO)

Global Distributor’s Collective

Brighter futures in Peru

Energy for refugees

Clearing the air in Darfur

Knowledge Centre

Technical consulting in energy

Publishing

By 2025, our work with partners will have led to two million people in ‘last mile’ communities and a further 18 million systems beneficiaries having access to affordable low-carbon energy, for household, business and community uses.