If you are reading this story, chances are you have access to reliable electricity. But for 675 million people, darkness still prevails when the sun sets.
3 Stories Celebrating the Power of Clean Energy
Global electricity access rate (2021, ESMAP)
Global electricity access: 91%
Sub-Saharan Africa: 50%
Western Asia and Northern Africa: 94%
Central Asia and Southern Asia: 99%
Eastern Asia and South-eastern Asia: 98%
Oceania: 81%
Latin America and the Caribbean: 98%
North America and Europe: 100%
Beyond just lighting up homes, sustainable clean energy plays a pivotal role in job creation, security, combating climate change, reducing air pollution, enhancing food production, and alleviating poverty. It's a cornerstone for building inclusive digital economies, safeguarding our ecosystems, and ensuring equity.
The UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) has been at the forefront of this transformative journey. Through its Energy Access Programme, it collaborates with energy and financial service providers to amplify business models that bring cleaner, more efficient, and more effective energy sources to those in most need.
Since 2021, solutions supported by UNCDF have
Given over 4.2 million people access to clean energy solutions.
Generated over 2,000 MWh of solar electricity
Offset a staggering 1.2 million tonnes of CO2 emissions
Saved over 197,500 tonnes of firewood and 130,000 liters of kerosene
But what do these numbers mean for the everyday individual?
A Breath of Fresh Air for Asiimwe and Winnie
In the heart of Western Uganda, Prime Energy and Environment Savers Ltd. (PEES) is revolutionizing the way people cook. Their improved cookstoves, distributed through a robust network of agents, are not only eco-friendly but also economically efficient. For restaurant owner Asiimwe, the PEES stove has been a game-changer, saving her money, time, and ensuring a smoke-free environment for her delighted customers. Similarly, Winnie, an office cook, praises the stove for its speed and cost-efficiency.
Since I started using the PEES stove, I save more on charcoal, time and the stove provides a clean cooking environment, and my customers are happy because there is no smoke coming out of the stove. – Asiimwe
Since I prepare meals for office workers, the PEES brick stove makes it easier for me since it cooks faster, saves money on buying cooking fuels, is smoke free. – Winnie
A Beacon of Hope and Empowerment
ENGIE’s innovative approach to integrating solar pay-go systems with cookstoves has been transformative. Kimboowa, a satisfied customer, lauds the efficiency and durability of the Fenix Power3+ bundle. But ENGIE’s impact doesn't stop at products. Their female agent recruitment program has empowered women like Jesca, offering them opportunities to hone their skills and improve their livelihoods.
The older cookstove is fake and also not durable and consumes a lot of charcoal compared to the new cookstove. This new one saves charcoal. It also produces heat from the clay surface that can help to heat the sauce again without putting more charcoal. It does not produce smoke which adds soot to saucepans while cooking. – Kimboowa
I joined ENGIE in May 2021. I got to know about this opportunity through a friend who works with the company as a sales agent. Working with Engie has enabled me to get managerial and selling skills. I have earned money that has helped me to provide for my family and avail my personal basic needs. I am now saving money for my tuition at campus. I 100% recommend my fellow ladies to join Engie in order to improve their standards of living. - Jesca
A Beacon of Hope and Empowerment
In partnership with FINCA Uganda, BrightLife is bridging the gap between energy access and financial inclusion. William, once reliant on kerosene and dry sticks for lighting, now enjoys the benefits of a solar home system, allowing him to work longer hours and support his family.
I would always put together dry sticks and light them whenever I needed to check on my cows and goats every night just to make sure none of them was lost. The smoke never made the experience easy but I had to keep doing it every day. Now, I am able to work extra hours at night and earn extra income to support my family’s basic needs because of the sufficient light from the solar system in my house. – William
This article is based on the 10 stories of people benefiting from clean energy solutions from the UN Capital Development Fund.
See the original story here.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the views of UNCDF, the United Nations or any of its affiliated organizations or its Member States.
The images in this article were created with Adobe Firefly.
