Energy Poverty Impacts Three Billion People. Time to Think Big.

For much of sub-Saharan Africa, agriculture is the primary economic driver and by far the largest sector for employment. This is well-known - development and evolution of the agriculture sector is high on the priority lists of many governments across the continent.

Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is home to the world’s most rapidly growing cities, driving up urban energy demand and placing a vastly increased burden on urban governance.

BLUF Diesel prices in Nigeria have almost quadrupled since 2021 due to increased price volatility in global oil markets and the devaluation of the Naira, the local currency.

Three waves of electrification in Africa African countries stand no chance of lifting their people out of poverty and achieving a decent standard of living for all without affordable, reliable, and sustainable electricity.

Countries in Africa need a massive scale-up of clean energy. But the pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine are disproportionately affecting these economies— and having especially severe effects on their energy sectors. Our latest analysis, “New Headwinds to Clean Energy: Four crippling squeezes on SDG7 and priorities to address them,” shows that both grid and off-grid clean energy investments are being constrained. Fellow Ben Attia, co-author of the report and Research Lead for Energy, Climate and Sustainability at Blackrock discusses with co-author and host Todd Moss the four interlocking squeezes that are disrupting energy development across emerging and frontier markets, and four priority areas to tackle them. Watch their Coffee Break Briefing discussion below, and view all our past briefings here.  

Executive Summary Shocks from the pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine are disproportionately affecting emerging and frontier economies – and having especially severe effects on their energy sectors.

The purpose of a nation’s power sector is to deliver reliable electricity at the lowest cost and for the greatest benefit.

What are the risks associated with new gas-fired power in developing economies, and how can we mitigate them? In the face of intensifying climate change impacts, we must shift decisively away from unabated fossil fuels.

Higher prices for oil & gas should be good news for wind & solar energy and drive an even faster energy transition – at least in rich countries.

The U.S. Inflation Reduction Act, now headed to President Biden’s desk for signature, is predominantly a domestic bill – with huge ramifications for U.S.