It Takes a Village: Rural Electrification in East Africa

Access to electric energy is an ?indispensable element of sustainable human development,? according to the International Energy Agency. Without access to modern, commercial energy, poor countries can be trapped in a vicious circle of poverty, social instability, and underdevelopment. About 1.6 billion people?more than 20% of the world?s population?have no access to electricity. Moreover, about 2.4 billion people use traditional biomass for cooking and heating. Developing regions account for 99% of those who live without electricity, and four out of five live in rural areas of South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.

Have a Local Business and Process Plan

In East Africa, if a grid exists, it's unreliable. Most people live without running water, lighting, or cooling. There is no economic engine without reliable energy. Many factories and mines have shut down due to an unstable energy supply. As many countries depend mostly on hydropower generation, Africa's drought has severely consumed their general funds because they have transitioned to their backup power source: diesel thermal power. The region is in desperate need of affordable, clean, and dependable energy. But more than that, it needs economic growth. The fastest way to meet all of these crucial needs is by means of localized, distributed resources that can spur local industry.