Energy Poverty: Why is it more serious than you think!

Access to a sustainable energy source is now an afterthought to the majority of the world's population. Why bother and think about it when the entire developed nations achieved an accessibility rate of 100%, coupled with an adequate World Average of 87%.

The above percentages may seem high and less agonizing compared to other current global issues, yet, it is still shocking to know that almost 1.2 Billion (That's a B) people are still living without any access to electricity, aka Energy Poverty.

So what is exactly Energy Poverty, What consequences does it have, and What are the current solutions to combat a neglected global issue.

Energy Poverty

In simple terms, Energy Poverty is defined as the "Lack of access to modern energy services". This sort of lack can be addressed under several conditions, including:

1. Lack of adequate and reliable energy services
2. Lack of affordability
3. Lack of safe and environmentally friendly energy sources
4. Lack of a sustainable energy providers

Currently, 13% of the world's population is witnessing one of the above conditions and has no access to electricity, mostly in Africa and South Asia as shown in the figure below.?

In Sub-Saharan Africa alone, more than 600 million people (i.e. half of the African Continent population) live without electricity, compared to 350 million people in Asia. The "energy poor" population is divided into two major categories:

• 15% live in urban areas and are close to power grids, but are not connected to the grid
• 85% live in rural areas with far physical proximity to any centralized grid

With such numbers in hand, it is clear that Energy access is not equally distributed around the globe, and with it comes consequences for the least fortunate population without access to electricity.

Consequences of Energy Poverty

As stated by the world bank, "Access to energy is the heart of development", and without such access, countries will face inadequate progress under several categories, including:

?1. Socially

2. Industrially

3. Agriculturally.

Energy Access is coupled with a nation's ability to have better health, better education, and ultimately a better future for its people.

Without access to electricity, a country will be doomed to a poverty cycle, where without access to energy, improvements in health, education, and productivity will be halted, no economic growth will be achieved, and therefore people will remain poor.?

The Energy Poverty Cycle can be illustrated below:

How to Combat Energy Poverty

One of the obstacles facing the energy-poor areas is Geography. As indicated above, 85% of the energy poor population live in rural areas where there is no electricity grid, and the cost to expand the grid to such areas often lacks financial support and expertise.

To overcome the above limitation, off-grid renewable energy resources can be the solution to supply rural areas with a sustainable energy service and eliminate the need for Main-grid expansions.

Stand-alone solutions like (1) Solar Panels, (2) Small Wind Turbines for mini-grids, or (3) Hydro mini-grids can be a great opportunity to increase energy accessibility, and help poor nations break through the poverty cycle.?

Millions of people can be brought out of darkness by exploring what could be a simple solution to execute, yet, with an effective outcome. Off-grid renewable solutions can be affordable, provide a sustainable supply of energy, and have the least impact on the environment.

The question is, what are major agencies, commissions, and organizations doing to provide a light of hope to the 1.2 Billion who need it??