Business Solutions to Enable Energy Access for All

February 21st, 2012

About 1.3 billion people around the world have no access to electricity and 2.7 billion people rely on traditional biomass for cooking and heating. Up to a billion more have access only to unreliable electricity networks. Lack of access to energy is a major barrier to economic and social progress and must be overcome to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.

Business is a critical actor in addressing global energy challenges. Business is a primary solution provider, bringing to the table innovative products and services, efficient service delivery, essential technologies, management and technical capabilities, and financial resources.

Many companies see energy access as a strategic driver for expanding businesses in emerging and low-income countries. There is an approximately $500 billion/year potential market for supplying energy services to the four billion people at the ‘base of the pyramid’ and an addition $1 trillion market of investments in new infrastructure, equipment and supporting management services needed by to achieve universal household access to energy by 2030.

On February 21st, 2012 we heard what leading companies are doing to scale up access to clean energy in developing countries, how they are tackling the associated challenges, and their perspective on the role of public policy, regulation and financing to catalyze business investment in clean energy access.

For event recording and photos, click here

Presentation materials can be found below.