Power

Overview

The State of Affairs

While the world is expanding access to renewable energy, those advances remain unevenly distributed. More than 840 million people lack access to electricity and over 3 billion people live in countries with per capita energy consumption below the Modern Energy Minimum – 1,000kwh per year.

This limits communities’ ability to access modern healthcare and education, run businesses, and promote economic growth.

Our mission is to equitably extend renewable energy access, and build a robust, low-carbon energy infrastructure to support inclusive and fair energy transitions.

Why it matters

>0BillionBillion
people face energy shortfalls, and 849 million people live without access to any electricity worldwide
0%%
people in sub-Saharan Africa, the continent with the lowest access rate, are without electricity today
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of global carbon emissions will come from low-and middle-income countries by 2050 if they stay on their current trajectory

Overview

Energy is fundamental to modern living and a prosperous economy. The UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7) calls for modern energy access for all, defined as 50-100 kWh per person per year at home.

100 kWh is enough to power several light bulbs for a few hours a day, charge a mobile phone, and occasionally run a fan or other small appliance. It’s not enough for modern appliances.

The access target does not cover energy used outside the home, even though most electricity is used in Industry and commerce.

Basic electricity access, as currently measured for SDG7, is necessary, but only a first step.

How We Respond

Our Strategy

1Scaling through the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP): We’re taking urgent action to end energy poverty and support inclusive energy transitions. We made the biggest bet in The Rockefeller Foundation's history in GEAPP, to unleash a renewable energy revolution in 80+ nations.
2Strengthening Energy Ecosystems in collaboration with GEAPP: We’re creating market tipping points to drive transformational change in low- and middle-income countries, with a focus on advancing green grids, scaling distributed renewable energy, and building robust green economies.
3Spurring Clean Energy Investments: We incubate and invest in strategies to accelerate inclusive global energy transitions led by GEAPP and our other partners. We focus on creating energy transition architecture for Africa, developing innovative approaches to expand energy access, and propelling global shifts to clean energy.

Current Actions