Recognition of potential for off-grid energy in rural Africa
Clean off-grid and decentralised solutions are being recognised as a financially viable alternative for supplying electricity to isolated regions, according to the declaration of the South Africa International Renewable Energy Conference 2015, which took place in Cape Town, South Africa this week. The conference, attended by ministers and government representatives of 28 countries, called for increased development of renewable energy, with rural needs being met with grid and off-grid solutions, in order to achieve a global sustainable energy transition. The conference participants noted that to make universal access a reality by 2030, 1.3 billion people, out of which 621 million in the Sub-Saharan region, should be provided access to electricity. The scale of the challenge requires that all approaches, including grid and off-grid solutions are taken into account and adopted based on national appropriateness and efficiency principles.
Photo Credit: Lollie-Pop