From Lighting Africa to Lighting Global | Creating Off-Grid Solar Markets to Light up the World
The off-grid solar sector has taken a leap in the past decade to help developing countries reach their energy access goals. Fueled by new technologies and business models, the sector has provided improved electricity to approximately 360 million people to date. The Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP) has been a key part of this revolution. It provided crucial technical and financial support to help leverage millions of dollars in World Bank financing, strengthen policies, and engage the private sector to accelerate off-grid electrification.
Modern, high-quality off-grid lighting and energy products can transform lives. Over the past decade, a concerted global push has created thriving markets for these products, demonstrating that off-grid solutions can complement sustained grid electrification to accelerate the rate of bringing electricity to the roughly 1.1 billion people who lack this service. The off-grid solar sector has taken a leap in the past decade to help developing countries reach their energy access goals. Fueled by new technologies and business models, the sector has provided improved electricity to approximately 360 million people to date. The Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP) has been a key part of this revolution. It provided crucial technical and financial support to help leverage millions of dollars in World Bank financing, strengthen policies, and engage the private sector to accelerate off-grid electrification.