Powering a Brighter Future

Over the past decade, stories like Derrick’s have become increasingly common. Since 2010, more than 1 billion people worldwide have gained access to electricity—which has helped improve their lives. In fact, the number of people without electricity dropped from 1.2 billion in 2010 to 759 million in 2019. That’s according to a report from several international organizations including the World Bank, which is dedicated to reducing poverty.

Experts say expanding access to electricity is key to strengthening economies, improving education and health care, and creating high-paying job opportunities. 

“Energy is really the foundation of everything,” says Mark Carrato. He’s the coordinator of Power Africa, a U.S. government program run by USAID that’s focused on electrifying communities in Africa.

Over the past decade, stories like Derrick’s have become increasingly common. Since 2010, more than 1 billion people worldwide have gained access to electricity. That has helped improve their lives. In fact, the number of people without electricity dropped from 1.2 billion in 2010 to 759 million in 2019. That is according to a report from several international organizations. They include the World Bank, which is dedicated to reducing poverty.

Experts say that expanding access to electricity is key to strengthening economies and improving education and health care. It is also key to creating high-paying job opportunities.

“Energy is really the foundation of everything,” says Mark Carrato. He is the coordinator of Power Africa, a U.S. government program that is run by USAID. It focuses on electrifying communities in Africa.

That’s why officials around the globe have been working toward an ambitious goal: to bring electricity to everyone worldwide by 2030. The aim is one of the Sustainable Development Goals, a series of targets set by the United Nations (U.N.) that are meant to improve the lives of the world’s most vulnerable people (see “What You Need to Know,” below). In addition to increasing access to electricity, other goals include ensuring gender equality and combating climate change. 

Despite the major challenges ahead, Carrato is optimistic that the U.N.’s electricity goal is within reach. 

“It’s totally doable,” he says. “But it’s going to take a lot of people working together.”

That is why officials around the globe have been working toward an ambitious goal. They want to bring electricity to everyone worldwide by 2030. The aim is one of the Sustainable Development Goals. Those are a series of targets set by the United Nations (U.N.) that are meant to improve the lives of the world’s most vulnerable people (see “What You Need to Know,” below). Besides increasing access to electricity, other goals include ensuring gender equality and combating climate change.

Major challenges lie ahead. But Carrato is optimistic that the U.N.’s electricity goal is within reach.

“It’s totally doable,” he says. “But it’s going to take a lot of people working together.”

Many people in the United States and other wealthy countries may not realize how important electricity is to their daily lives. You and your friends may not think twice about reaching for a snack in the refrigerator, spending hours in front of the TV, or charging your phone in an outlet.

But without electricity, hundreds of millions of people worldwide can’t do any of those things, let alone run computers, fans, or microwaves. About 75 percent of them—roughly 570 million people—live in sub-Saharan Africa. The vast majority are in rural areas, many of which aren’t connected to an energy grid. (An energy grid is a large network—sometimes hundreds of thousands of miles long—that delivers electricity to homes, schools, businesses, and other places.) 

As a result, people in communities like Derrick’s often have to light their homes with kerosene lamps, which can be expensive and inefficient. Others burn clumps of grass or use candles, which produce only small amounts of light—and can cause house fires.

Many people in the U.S. and other wealthy countries may not realize how important electricity is to their daily lives. You and your friends may not think twice about getting a snack from the refrigerator, spending hours watching TV, or charging your phone in an outlet.

But without electricity, hundreds of millions of people worldwide cannot do those things, let alone run computers, fans, or microwaves. About 75 percent of them live in sub-Saharan Africa. That is roughly 570 million people. The vast majority are in rural areas. Many of those areas are not connected to an energy grid. (An energy grid is a large network, sometimes hundreds of thousands of miles long. It delivers electricity to homes, schools, businesses, and more.)

As a result, people in communities like Derrick’s often have to light their homes with kerosene lamps. Those can be expensive and inefficient. Other people burn clumps of grass or use candles. But those produce only small amounts of light. And they can cause house fires.

Eleven-year-old Alinafe of Malawi, a country in southeastern Africa, for example, once fell asleep while using a candle to study for an upcoming test. The flame ignited the blanket she and her younger brother were lying under—as well as the straw mat beneath them—leaving Alinafe with burns up and down her arm.

“Candles bring accidents,” says a leader in Alinafe’s village. “This is a problem for my community.”

Many people without electricity also rely on wood, coal, or charcoal as fuel to cook their meals and heat their homes. Burning such materials releases harmful smoke and fumes, which can lead to serious health problems, including heart disease and lung cancer, and even death. 

In addition, some families have to spend up to 10 hours a week collecting wood or other materials to burn. Such tasks often fall to women and girls, who in many low-income countries are responsible for all household chores. That takes up valuable time that could have been spent on other important activities, such as schooling, paid work, child care, or even sleep. 

That happened to 11-year-old Alinafe of Malawi. That is a country in southeastern Africa. Alinafe once fell asleep while using a candle to study for a test. The flame set fire to the blanket on her and her younger brother, and the straw mat beneath them. Alinafe was left with burns up and down her arm.

“Candles bring accidents,” says a leader in Alinafe’s village. “This is a problem for my community.”

Many people without electricity also rely on wood, coal, or charcoal as fuel to cook meals and heat their homes. Burning such materials releases harmful smoke and fumes. That can lead to serious health problems, including heart disease and lung cancer, and even death.

Also, some families have to spend up to 10 hours a week collecting wood or other materials to burn. Such tasks often fall to women and girls. In many low-income countries, they are responsible for all household chores. That takes up valuable time that could have been spent on other important activities, such as schooling, paid work, child care, or even sleep.

In recent years, however, governments, private companies, and humanitarian groups have made expanding access to electricity a priority. As a result, the World Bank estimates, 90 percent of the global population has electricity today, up from 83 percent in 2010. That means more and more hospitals around the world can now run lifesaving medical equipment, farmers can power water pumps to irrigate their crops, and shops can stay open after dark.

Experts say the African nation of Kenya is among the countries that have made the most progress (see map, below). One recent government initiative there has helped millions of low-income households connect to the nation’s energy grid. 

In recent years, governments, private companies, and humanitarian groups have made expanding access to electricity a priority. As a result, the World Bank estimates, 90 percent of the global population has electricity today. That is up from 83 percent in 2010. This means more and more hospitals around the world can run lifesaving medical equipment. It means farmers can power water pumps to irrigate crops. And shops can stay open after dark.

Experts say the African nation of Kenya is among the countries that have made the most progress (see map, below). One recent government initiative there has helped millions of low-income households connect to the nation’s energy grid.

Kenya’s leaders have also made huge strides in expanding access to renewable energy, including wind and solar power (see “Understanding Renewable Energy,” below). In 2019, for instance, the biggest wind farm in all of Africa opened in northwestern Kenya. It covers 40,000 acres and includes 365 wind turbines—enough to power hundreds of thousands of homes. 

Renewable energy has also benefited Malawi. Thanks to a recent partnership between Power Africa and local solar companies, nearly 58,000 families there have been able to install solar panels on their homes. That has helped people like Chrissy Kasawe generate electricity to power lights and appliances. 

“My children are now able to get their homework done and study even at night,” says Kasawe. “I am also able to charge my phone and listen to the radio at any given time.”

Hundreds of millions of people in India, a country in South Asia, have gotten power in recent decades as well. Among other initiatives, the government has helped make electricity more affordable and reliable. One program in particular has helped lower the cost of an energy-efficient light bulb from the equivalent of about $5.50 to less than $1. Saving money on electricity has helped many families afford food, clothing, and other necessities. 

“This helps immensely,” says Mamta Bairwa, a mother of six who uses some of the money she saves to pay for her daughters’ education.

Kenya’s leaders have also made huge strides in expanding access to renewable energy. That includes wind and solar power (see “Understanding Renewable Energy,” below). For example, the biggest wind farm in Africa opened in northwestern Kenya in 2019. It covers 40,000 acres. It includes 365 wind turbines. That is enough to power hundreds of thousands of homes.

Renewable energy has also benefited Malawi. Nearly 58,000 families there have been able to install solar panels on their homes. That is thanks to a recent partnership between Power Africa and local solar companies. The project has helped people like Chrissy Kasawe generate electricity to power lights and appliances.

“My children are now able to get their homework done and study even at night,” says Kasawe. “I am also able to charge my phone and listen to the radio at any given time.”

Hundreds of millions of people in India, a country in South Asia, have also gotten power in recent decades. Among other initiatives, the government has helped make electricity more affordable and reliable. One program has helped lower the cost of an energy-efficient light bulb. The cost is down from the equivalent of about $5.50 to less than $1. Saving money on electricity has helped many families afford food, clothing, and other necessities.

“This helps immensely,” says Mamta Bairwa. She is a mother of six. She uses some of the money she saves to pay for her daughters’ education.

Still, experts note that some of the recent progress in expanding access to electricity slowed last year because of the Covid-19 pandemic. 

For one thing, as the global economy suffered, many workers lost their jobs or earned less money. That made it difficult for people to afford power. Governments and private companies faced financial challenges too, and certain electrification projects had to be put on hold. 

Many officials, however, have since stepped up their efforts to improve energy access, in part to help respond to the Covid-19 crisis. After all, electricity is needed to refrigerate vaccines and help diagnose and treat the disease. SolarAid, Power Africa, and other groups, for example, have focused on electrifying hospitals in sub-Saharan Africa, where more than 70 percent of health-care facilities lack reliable power.

Still, experts note that some of the recent progress in expanding access to electricity slowed last year because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

For one thing, as the global economy suffered, many workers lost their jobs or earned less money. That made it difficult for people to afford power. Governments and private companies faced financial challenges too. Certain electrification projects had to be put on hold.

But many officials have since increased their efforts to improve energy access. That is partly to help respond to the Covid-19 crisis. After all, electricity is needed to refrigerate vaccines and help diagnose and treat the disease. Groups including SolarAid and Power Africa have focused on electrifying hospitals in sub-Saharan Africa. More than 70 percent of health-care facilities there lack reliable power.

Such initiatives are extremely important, says Marianne Mwale, a lab technician at a health clinic in a rural part of Zambia. Her workplace recently acquired solar lights—and she says they’ve made all the difference. 

“You need light to examine your patients and to run lab tests,” Mwale notes. “You can’t do anything, not even the simplest things, without light.” 

Indeed, experts say the pandemic has highlighted why electricity is so important—and why even more needs to be done in the coming years to make it available to everyone. The International Energy Agency (IEA), an organization that helps governments shape their energy policies, warns that without additional efforts, 660 million people worldwide could still lack electricity in 2030—roughly 8 percent of the global population. Eighty-five percent of them would live in sub-Saharan Africa.

Such initiatives are extremely important, says Marianne Mwale. She is a lab technician at a health clinic in a rural part of Zambia. Her workplace recently got solar lights. She says they have made all the difference.

“You need light to examine your patients and to run lab tests,” Mwale notes. “You can’t do anything, not even the simplest things, without light.”

Indeed, experts say the pandemic has highlighted why electricity is so important. And it shows why even more needs to be done in the coming years to make it available to everyone. The International Energy Agency (IEA) is an organization that helps governments shape their energy policies. It warns that without additional efforts, 660 million people worldwide could still lack electricity in 2030. That is roughly 8 percent of the global population. Eighty-five percent of them would live in sub-Saharan Africa.

To reach the U.N.’s goal, experts say, world leaders, private companies, and aid groups will have to significantly increase investments. The IEA estimates that $30 billion per year will be needed to help countries reach universal energy access. 

Continuing to electrify schools is especially important too, experts point out. About 230 million kids worldwide currently attend schools that don’t have electricity, according to the U.N. That hurts students’ chances of securing high-paying jobs in the future. Carrato says officials also need to focus on making electricity services more reliable and affordable—and on expanding access to renewable energy.

Derrick, for one, is evidence that investing in electricity pays off. In fact, his whole family has benefited from his school’s Light Library. His mom uses the solar lamp to help her see while she’s cooking dinner, and before bed, Derrick and his siblings gather around the lamp to share stories and talk about their day.

Meanwhile, Michelo has continued to see improvements in Derrick’s schoolwork. He now dreams of becoming a teacher—a goal that’s within reach thanks in part to something as simple as a solar lamp. 

“I never thought he would get to where he is now,” says Michelo. “It’s so amazing.”

This article was updated on 8/12/21.

Experts say that to reach the U.N.’s goal, world leaders, private companies, and aid groups will have to greatly increase investments. The IEA estimates that $30 billion per year will be needed to help countries reach universal energy access.

Continuing to electrify schools is especially important too, experts say. About 230 million kids worldwide currently attend schools that lack electricity. That is according to the U.N. This hurts students’ chances of securing high-paying jobs in the future. Carrato says officials also need to focus on making electricity services more reliable and affordable. And he says they need to expand access to renewable energy.

Derrick, for one, is evidence that investing in electricity pays off. In fact, his whole family has benefited from his school’s Light Library. The solar lamp helps his mom see while she cooks dinner. And before bed, Derrick and his siblings gather around the lamp to share stories and talk about their day.

Meanwhile, Michelo has continued to see improvements in Derrick’s schoolwork. Derrick now dreams of becoming a teacher. His goal is within reach thanks in part to something as simple as a solar lamp.

“I never thought he would get to where he is now,” says Michelo. “It’s so amazing.”

This article was updated on 8/12/21.