Envisioning energy for all by 2030

Junior Professional Lynette Korir, working for SNV's Improved Cookstove Programme in Nepal, was attended the Sustainable Energy for ALL (SE4ALL) conference in New York.

What constitutes financing a trillion dollar investment? This is the needed cost to achieve sustainable energy for all by 2030.

I was privileged to attend the second Sustainable Energy for ALL (SE4ALL) conference held in New York in 2015. This initiative was founded by Ban Ki Moon in 2011 to achieve universal Energy Access, by doubling the share of renewable energy and improving energy efficiency. This conference brought together all stakeholders to network and discuss solutions to achieving SE4ALL goals by 2030.

I am passionate about renewable energy and like keeping up-to date with renewable energy trends. This forum provided the perfect opportunity to expand and gain new knowledge on renewable energy, learn with guidance from senior SNV advisors on networking and SNV positioning, get insights from global leaders on their experiences in tacking energy challenges and its future, and increase my network on a global level.

SE4ALL financing will be achieved through blended financing from donors, foundations, governments, private sector and NGOs. There is sufficient renewable energy to make developing countries self-reliant. Integration of governments, new energy policies, a global mix of renewables with LPG, public- private partnerships, right costs and having business models that work with cohesion will lead to the achievement of the SE4ALL goals.

Private sector investment will play an important role driven by the energy demand that needs to be created at the grassroots level and for this energy entrepreneurs need to be encouraged. Involvement of women and youth in the energy value chain cannot be underestimated because of their part in sustainability. For SE4ALL to be achieved by 2030 we need to accelerate project implementation.

Highlights

• SE4ALL Capacity Building Hub: This hub was launched in 2014 and is hosted by TERI. SNV will partner with this initiative which currently provides capacity building through training and education in improved biomass cookstove and solar lighting technologies.

• 1 Gigatone Coalition: This is a voluntary international framework aiming to increase efforts to measure and report reduced GHG emissions from renewable energy and energy efficiency initiative programmes in developing countries. This coalition is to help mobilise action in the energy sector to help reduce the emission gap.  SNV is interested in joining this coalition.

• Water–Energy-Food nexus: Renewable energy technologies offer substantial opportunities in the Water-Energy-Food nexus. SNV is already involved in this area through our Milk chilling with biogas programme in Tanzania, Kenya and Zambia under the OPEC Fund for international Development.

• Investing in gender-informed business models for scaling up energy access: When women are involved in energy value chains increases energy access 3 times. Empowering women financially and creating tailor-made courses that revolve around their activities would also accelerate access. The trend in gender seems to incline towards women and children’s health.