Ayrton Challenge: Inclusive Energy and Leave No-one Behind

Clean Energy Access for Remote Pacific Island Countries – CLEARPICs
https://www.spc.int/ spc@spc.int
Summary

In Countries and Territories (PICTs) in the indo-Pacific access to electricity has increased from 31% of households on average in 2010 to 55% in 2018. Three of the largest and most populous PICTs, however, have the poorest electrification rates (by household) – Papua New Guinea (PNG) (47%), Solomon Islands (57%), and Vanuatu (64%). A mixed energy approach that continues to support the increasing demand for access to energy with the inclusion of some of the most remote and rural communities across the Pacific is critical towards achieving SDG7 and a shift away from fossil fuels to meet the countries Nationally Determined Contributions. Universal access to affordable, reliable, and modern energy services is articulated in SDG 7, hence supporting remote and island-based communities to access energy and catalysing business opportunities will be transformative.

Existing hurdles and risks are high for private companies doing mini-grid projects in the PICTs. The remote nature of the islands and harsh marine environment poses challenges of accessibility and lack of economies of scale. Such unfavourable conditions result in a high cost and risk which prevents private companies from engaging. As a result, there has been a vacuum of responsibility for the sustainable operation of mini-grid projects, which in turn results in unsatisfactory performance and unfulfilled socio-economic benefits of mini-grid projects.

This new project is to support energy access across PICTs through research into technology applicability, scale and governance within case study countries by undertaking geographically specific research into opportunities for off-grid energy deployment within PICTs countries. The project includes five work packages with some delivered across all PICTs whereas others will be undertaken on a selection. The three PICTs that have the poorest electrification rates (PNG, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu) will be covered by specific tailored activities along with other PICTs that have made more energy access progress to help further progress pioneer markets and act as a reference case, such as Fiji.

Market Mechanisms for the Communities Living in Extreme Poverty
practicalaction.org consulting@practicalaction.org.uk
Summary

Market Mechanisms for Communities Living in Extreme Poverty (MM-EP) is a research project that aims to fill an information gap by understanding who and where those who live extreme poverty (living on less than $2.15 per day) are, and what their energy needs and challenges are. The project will review market-based mechanisms (e.g. PAYGo/hire purchase business models) that currently operate in the energy access sector and understand which mechanisms best serve communities living in extreme poverty. The overarching objective is to provide high quality research to support future decision making. MM-EP is led by Practical Action and supported by the Transforming Energy Access (TEA) platform.

Transforming Humanitarian Energy Access (THEA)
humanitarianenergy.org energy@unitar.org
Summary

The Transforming Humanitarian Energy Access (THEA) programme aims to ensure that no one is left behind in displacement settings in the transition to sustainable energy solutions. THEA is led by the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and is supported by the Transforming Energy Access (TEA) platform. It seeks to support inclusive and transformative investments in sustainable energy throughout the humanitarian sector and to mainstream investments in humanitarian contexts through collaborations with TEA partners. Furthermore, THEA aims to enable the UN system and humanitarian partners to deliver sustainable energy access in displacement settings using more inclusive practices.

Powering Healthcare
seforall.org poweringhealthcare@seforall.org
Summary

The Powering Healthcare programme aims to provide the solutions needed by governments and their partners to increase investment in health facility electrification efforts in developing countries. Powering Healthcare is led by Sustainable Energy for All (SEforAll) and supported by the Transforming Energy Access (TEA) platform. The programme seeks to break down the sector-wide, systemic barriers that impede wide-scale deployment of quality energy solutions for health centres and clinics in developing countries. Powering Healthcare will generate better sector intelligence, drive the uptake of data, technology and financial innovation, and amplify the global advocacy efforts to raise ambition and strengthen cooperation and knowledge exchange among health and energy actors.

Sierra Leone Hospital Electrification Project
www.seforall.org madhusagar.singh@seforall.org
Summary

Health service delivery in Sierra Leone remains hampered by a lack of reliable electricity access in health facilities. This impacts health facilities at all levels, with several key hospitals still unconnected to the national grid. Those hospitals that are connected to a grid continue to suffer from frequent power outages. With support from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP), SEforALL developed a ‘Market Assessment & Roadmap’ for the sustainable electrification of social infrastructure, most notable in the health and education sector. Building on the results of this assessment, SEforALL with co-funding from the FCDO is supporting a new health electrification project that will electrify unelectrified or under-electrified hospitals in Sierra Leone, which is expected to enable improved delivery of health services – particularly but not limited to maternal and child health services.

Pacific Clean Energy
devtracker.fcdo.gov.uk/projects/ Gabriel.MontaguPollock@fcdo.gov.uk
Summary

Programme designed to improve access to affordable clean energy among Pacific Island Countries. It includes an initial UK investment of £3.5m to deliver renewable energy to the remote highlands of Papua New Guinea in partnership with Australia. This programme is funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).

Global Innovation Fund
globalinnovation.fund hello@globalinnovation.fund
Summary

The Global Innovation Fund invests in innovations with the greatest potential for social impact, regardless of sector or geography, and that benefit people living on less than $5/day in developing countries, including some innovations in the clean energy sector. This programme is funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).

SUNRISE
sunrisenetwork.org www.sunrisenetwork.org/contact-us/
Summary

SUNRISE is an international project that seeks to address global energy poverty through the research and development of next-generation solar technologies. The project is currently demonstrating the effectiveness of these technologies through a series of demonstrators in rural India. It is led by the Swansea University and unites several leading universities and industrial collaborators from the UK and Global South in a transdisciplinary research collaboration. It is supported by the Transforming Energy Access (TEA) platform.

Zero Emissions Generator Accelerator (ZE-Gen)
www.ze-gen.org ze-gen@carbontrust.com
Summary

The Zero Emissions Generator Accelerator (ZE-Gen) was launched at COP27 in November 2022. It aims to enable the replacement of millions of polluting and expensive fossil-fuelled generators by accelerating the transition to renewable energy-based alternatives. ZE-Gen will focus on innovation, finance and investment, market intelligence, and ecosystem building to bring stakeholders together from across relevant sectors to accelerate the phase out of fossil fuelled generators. ZE-Gen is led by the Transforming Energy Access (TEA) platform.

Transforming Energy Access (TEA)
tea.carbontrust.com tea@carbontrust.com
Summary

Transforming Energy Access (TEA) is the flagship Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) research and innovation platform supporting early-stage testing and scale-up of innovative technologies and business models that accelerate access to affordable, clean and modern energy, enabling sustainable, and inclusive growth in Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and the Indo-Pacific region. This includes clean energy supply technologies (e.g. next generation solar), super-efficient demand solutions (e.g. efficient appliances, sustainable cooling, modern cooking) and smart delivery solutions (e.g. energy storage, green grids, hydrogen). It targets people and enterprises who have no or limited access to clean, modern energy services and limited opportunities to participate in, or benefit from, the energy sector through employment and income generation opportunities. TEA leads on several Ayrton Challenges including ‘Next Generation Solar’, ‘Zero Emissions Generators’, ‘Energy Storage’, ‘Clean Hydrogen’, ‘Inclusive Energy and Leave No One Behind’, ‘Sustainable Cooling for All’ and ‘Energy Efficiency’ (via the LEIA programme), and supports ‘Clean Transport’ and ‘Smart Energy Systems’.