Austria: First Set of Global Data on Energy Access, Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Released

About 1.2 billion people – almost the population of India – don’t have access to electricity, 2.8 billion have to rely on wood or other biomass to cook and heat their homes, renewable energy accounts for 18 percent of the global energy mix, and the largest energy savings and greatest expansion of renewables happened in China.

These are just some of the findings of a unique new report by a multi-agency team led by the World Bank and supported by the World Energy Council.  The report, compiled by experts from 15 agencies, is the first of a series to monitor progress towards the three objectives of the Sustainable Energy for All initiative, launched in 2011 by United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. The initiative, whose advisory board is co-chaired by World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim, is mobilizing a global coalition of governments, private sector and civil society to achieve, by 2030, its three objectives of universal access, doubled renewables and doubled energy efficiency improvement.

The report puts numbers to those three objectives and identifies what needs to change where and how to do it.

“Demand continues to outpace supply of electricity: That electricity needs to be affordable, and generated more and more in a sustainable way, and used more efficiently,” said World Bank Vice President Rachel Kyte, in launching the report. “To rise to this challenge – to meet peoples’ basic needs and to do so sustainably clearly requires a scale of effort we have never seen before.”

About 80 percent of those without access to modern energy live in rural areas. Although 1.7 billion people gained access to electricity between 1990 and 2010, this is only slightly ahead of population growth of 1.6 billion over the same period.  The pace of expansion will have to double to meet the 100 percent access target by 2030. To bring electricity to that one billion plus people using conventional energy sources would increase global carbon dioxide emissions by less than one percent.

The reports finds only “modest” progress since 1990 on expanding access to electricity and clean household fuels, increasing the share of renewable energy and improving energy efficiency.

Dr Christoph Frei, Secretary General of the World Energy Council, said: “The report shows that there has been progress but it is also clear that much more will need to be done if we are to meet the UN Secretary General’s ambitious goals. The global energy system is undergoing arguably the biggest transformation in modern history and bold policy measures will be required to enable the energy sector to deliver on this challenge. The World Energy Council is committed to play our part in achieving these goals and guiding the policy changes needed, through our leadership network and our events such as the World Energy Congress, with our Energy Tilemma policy work and our leadership in the Global Electricity Initiative.”

Twenty countries in Asia and Africa account for about two-thirds of those without access to electricity and three-quarters of those who use solid fuels—wood, charcoal, animal and crop waste, and coal—to cook or heat their homes.

The study calculates that renewable energy accounted for 18 percent of the global energy mix in 2010, and that the improvement rate of energy efficiency, described by a compound annual growth rate of energy intensity (CAGR), was -1.3 percent between 1990 and 2010.

Twenty so-called “high-impact” countries identified in the report as accounting for 80 percent of energy consumption will need to lead the way on doubling the share of renewables to 36 percent of the global energy mix and doubling energy efficiency.

Decisive action is needed to achieve these goals, the report concludes, including more than doubled energy investments, as well as “a comprehensive package of policy measures, including fiscal, financial and economic incentives, phasing out fossil fuel subsidies, and pricing of carbon.”

Dr Frei added: “Access to secure, clean, and affordable energy is fundamental to improving the lives of people across the world.  The goals of Sustainable Energy for All are important and we must seize this opportunity to make a better future.”

The report shows that China has recorded the largest energy savings and greatest expansion in renewable energy globally. India has electrified an annual average of 24 million people and provided 20 million a year with access to modern cooking and heating fuels since 1990.

“In the report, we refer to high-impact countries that offer the most potential to make rapid progress towards the goals,” said Vivien Foster, Energy Sector Manager at the World Bank, who led the report team. “This report suggests that they can draw lessons from the experience of what we call fast-moving countries. Interestingly, China and India fall in both categories.”

It also calls on countries, international organizations, private sector investors and civil society to increase energy investments focused on the three objectives by at least $600 billion a year until 2030, more than doubling the current estimated $409 billion. The additional $600 billion would include $45 billion for electricity expansion, $4.4 billion on modern cooking, $394 billion in energy efficiency, and $174 billion on renewable energy.

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Press release, May 29, 2013; Image: cornwallmarine