More than 500 participants yesterday gathered in Nairobi, capital city of Kenya for the opening of the third International Off-Grid Renewable Energy Conference (IOREC), where the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) has said the world can achieve 100 per cent access to energy for its inhabitants using off grid renewable energy.
Organised by IRENA, the IOREC seeks to drive off-grid deployment worldwide, and boost electricity access through the development of off-grid renewables.
IRENA said that roughly 15 per cent of the world’s population lives without electricity, but that off-grid solutions can provide an estimated 60 per cent of the additional generation needed to achieve universal access.
Its Director-General Adnan Amin was quoted to have said at the conference that a confluence of factors was making it possible for the world to achieve universal access to electricity.
“Access to electricity is a central building block for socio-economic development. It empowers communities to increase income and productivity, gain access to healthcare and education, enhance water and food security, and improve general well-being.
“Thankfully, a confluence of factors including cost declines and technology innovations, are making it more possible than ever to achieve universal electricity access through off-grid renewables,” said Amin.
