Study highlights how off-grid solar offers solutions to close the electricity divide
According to a report published Tuesday in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, by the World Bank, off-grid solar solutions offer the most efficient means to address the global electricity deficit.
TroibNews 
Off-grid solar solutions are identified as the most effective means to address the global electricity gap, according to a report released on Tuesday in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, by the World Bank.
The 2024 Off-Grid Solar Market Trends Report highlights that off-grid solar is the most cost-effective method to provide power to nearly 400 million people worldwide who currently lack access to electricity.
"The sector already provided 55 percent of the new connections in sub-Saharan Africa between 2020 and 2022, where over 80 percent of the unelectrified population lives," states the report, which is published by the World Bank's Energy Sector Management Assistance Program and GOGLA, a global association dedicated to the off-grid solar industry.
This report was introduced during the Global Off-Grid Solar Forum and Expo 2024, which attracted over 1,500 distinguished delegates, including government officials and industry leaders, for its three-day symposium beginning on Tuesday, aimed at discussing the future of energy access.
The findings reveal that approximately 685 million people globally are still without electricity.
By the end of 2023, the report indicates that more than 560 million individuals worldwide depended on grid solar solutions to meet their energy needs for homes and businesses.
Fan Qimiao, the World Bank country director for Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, and Uganda, emphasized that access to affordable, clean electricity is essential for eradicating poverty in a sustainable manner.
He stressed that off-grid solar will be pivotal in extending electricity access to households, businesses, schools, and health centers, thus facilitating development across various sectors.
Sarah Malm, executive director at GOGLA, remarked on the remarkable resilience exhibited by the off-grid solar industry despite facing difficult macroeconomic conditions.
Malm pointed out that there is a need for $21 billion to establish a financially sustainable off-grid solar sector capable of reaching the most underserved populations and supporting the achievement of energy access and climate objectives.
Rohan Mehta contributed to this report for TROIB News
The 2024 Off-Grid Solar Market Trends Report highlights that off-grid solar is the most cost-effective method to provide power to nearly 400 million people worldwide who currently lack access to electricity.
"The sector already provided 55 percent of the new connections in sub-Saharan Africa between 2020 and 2022, where over 80 percent of the unelectrified population lives," states the report, which is published by the World Bank's Energy Sector Management Assistance Program and GOGLA, a global association dedicated to the off-grid solar industry.
This report was introduced during the Global Off-Grid Solar Forum and Expo 2024, which attracted over 1,500 distinguished delegates, including government officials and industry leaders, for its three-day symposium beginning on Tuesday, aimed at discussing the future of energy access.
The findings reveal that approximately 685 million people globally are still without electricity.
By the end of 2023, the report indicates that more than 560 million individuals worldwide depended on grid solar solutions to meet their energy needs for homes and businesses.
Fan Qimiao, the World Bank country director for Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, and Uganda, emphasized that access to affordable, clean electricity is essential for eradicating poverty in a sustainable manner.
He stressed that off-grid solar will be pivotal in extending electricity access to households, businesses, schools, and health centers, thus facilitating development across various sectors.
Sarah Malm, executive director at GOGLA, remarked on the remarkable resilience exhibited by the off-grid solar industry despite facing difficult macroeconomic conditions.
Malm pointed out that there is a need for $21 billion to establish a financially sustainable off-grid solar sector capable of reaching the most underserved populations and supporting the achievement of energy access and climate objectives.
Rohan Mehta contributed to this report for TROIB News
